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Joseph Michael Bolger - Information

Joseph belonged to a large local family, whom resided in Ingleburn. He was one of eleven children born to John and Mary Ann Bolger, born in Ingleburn in 1886. While his siblings moved out to Queen St in Campbelltown, Joseph remained on the family property. He had found a position as a coachman, delivering passengers and goods throughout the community. When he was 28 years old, he decided to enlist in the AIF on the 4th of August 1915 at Warwick Farm Depot.

From the 19th of August 1915 until the 15th of June 1916, he trained with the 7th Light Horse Regiment, before being transferred to the Camel Corps at Menangle Park. Joseph then left Sydney Harbour as a Trooper with the Camel Corps, 2nd Reinforcements, on the 8th of July 1916 aboard the RMS Mongolia. He landed in Egypt where he was taken on strength to his unit at Moascar on the 12th of August, before marching out to Abbassia. In mid November he joined the 1st ANZAC Battalion, a contingent of the 1st Camel Brigade and served alongside the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Sinai and Palestine, patrolling for Turkish forces.

In June 1918, Joseph had contracted malaria and was admitted to hospital in Gaza. After recuperating, he returned to active duty in late July, posted to the 10th ANZAC Battery, Camel Corps. However, for the remainder of the year, Joseph was continually in and out of hospital with outbreaks of malaria. He was in hospital when the Turks surrendered and as the war ended on November 11th. Joseph rejoined the Battery in December and was shipped home in 1919.