GALLAGHER, Bernard Patrick

Thirty one year old Bernard Gallagher enlisted at Inverell on 6 December 1915 and agreed to serve from 12 January 1916.  He was born at Glen Innes and working as a Butcher in Inverell prior to enlistment.  He joined with the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs who left Inverell by train for Narrabri and Armidale camps. Bernard became a member of the 33rd Battalion which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon for England.  Further training was undertaken at Salisbury Plain before his Battalion was sent to France in November. 

Within a week of arriving in France Bernard became ill and a few weeks later was invalided to England with pneumonia.  When he recovered he was transferred to the 61st Battalion until returning to France and the 33rd Battalion in August 1917.  Eight months later he was gassed and sent to hospital in England.  In October 1918 he returned to France until the following March when he went back to England to wait for return to Australia.  He was discharged in September 1919. His brothers Clarence and Stephen also served with the 33rd Battalion.

The following year, Bernard married May Murphy at Glen Innes and they had three children.  Bernard suffered from his War experiences for the rest of his life and died at Randwick Military Hospital, Sydney in 1939.

Private Bernard Gallagher has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.