Neil John Sweeney

Name     Neil John Sweeney

Number    Private 3616

Battalion   57^th Battalion

Place of Birth   Quambetook

Next of Kin   Charles Sweeney of Bridgewater upon Loddon

Date and place of enlistment  Bendigo 15/7/15

Physical details on enlistment  Age 24 years 4 months, 5’6 ½ “, 9 stone 6 pounds, blue eyes and brown hair.

Religion   Roman Catholic

Occupation   Farmer

Date and place of death

He was killed in action at Armentieres on 22/9/1916

Location of grave or memorial

He was buried in Rue-Du-Bois Military Cemetery  Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais

Relationship to Woorayl Shire

He had some connection to Meeniyan 

Military History

• He is on the Meeniyan Honour Roll?
• He attended St Patricks school Ballarat
• he had been in the senior cadets
• He was rejected at first because of defective teeth.
• 15/7/15 He enlisted
• 29/12/15 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes
• He was originally in the 21^st Battalion, then the 60^th Battalion and then transferred to the 57^th Battalion
• 21/4/16 He was taken on strength to the 57^th Battalion
• 28/4/16 He was in hospital with influenza.
• 15/5/16 He returned to his unit.
• 17/6/16 He embarked Alexandria
• 23/6/16 He disembarked Marseilles
• 27/9/16 He was killed in action
• His effects were a religious medal, money belt, 5 buttons, 3 badges and letters
• His father received all his medals, his plaque and scroll.