Next of kin plaque: Private Bernard James Doherty, 56th Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number REL50155
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Bronze
Maker Memorial Plaque Factory, Acton
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1922
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'BERNARD JAMES DOHERTY'. A checker's number '21', is impressed behind the lion's rear leg.

History / Summary

Born in Wee Waa, New South Wales, Bernard James Doherty was employed as a boundary rider when he travelled to Sydney, where his parents lived, and enlisted in the AIF on 6 March 1916. After training in Cootamundra and Goulburn he was posted a private, service number 2400, to the 5th Reinforcements for 56th Battalion. The unit left Sydney for overseas service on 30 September, aboard HMAT A60 Aeneas, and arrived in England on 19 November.

After further training in England Doherty joined C Company of his battalion on 7 February 1917, at Montauban in France. He was evacuated to hospital from Noreuil on 11 May, suffering from diarrhoea, which was subsequently diagnosed as amoebic dysentery. After unsuccessful treatment in a number of hospitals and casualty clearing stations Doherty's condition deteriorated and he developed nephritis as well. He was transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England, where he died, aged 25, on 8 July, from dysentery and peritonitis. He was buried in a Roman Catholic ceremony at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Submitting Private Doherty's Roll of Honour circular (AWM131) to the Australian War Memorial in the 1920s his mother, Josephine, revealed the hardship he endured to enlist: after offering his services three times for the AIF, on each occasion he was rejected. He underwent an operation for varicose veins at his own expense, at the Coast Hospital, which made him an invalid for eight weeks. He was finally accepted into the AIF in 1916 after this operation. Despite this Doherty stated on his enlistment form that he had never been rejected for service. A physical examination at that time noted recent scars from leg surgery and the presence of further varicose veins.

His cousin, 6791 Private Harley James Doherty also served and was killed in action on 31 August 1918 at Mont St Quentin, France.

This commemorative plaque was sent to Doherty's father, Bernard John Doherty, in August 1922.