Gunner Roderick Michael Tiernan

Roderick Tiernan was born at Clifton Hill, Melbourne, in February 1894, to parents Patrick Tiernan and Elizabeth Tiernan (née Richardson). He was one of three children, with a brother Ludovic and a sister, Mary Theresa. The family later moved to Randwick, New South Wales.

Tiernan married Alice Langford Delany in 1915 and was living at Randwick with his wife at the time of his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. The couple had two sons, Justin and Roderick Hamilton.

Prior to enlistment Tiernan had served for four years in the 21st Infantry Militia and at enlistment was employed as a rate server.

Tiernan enlisted in the AIF on 24 August 1915 in Sydney. He was attached as a gunner to the 25th Battery, 7th Field Artillery Brigade. Tiernan embarked with the 7th Field Artillery Brigade from Sydney aboard the troopship Argyllshire on 11 May 1916. The unit sailed to Southampton, England, and then to France on 29 December 1916.

In July 1917, Tiernan was wounded in action by an explosion from a gas-laden artillery shell and repatriated to a hospital in Epsom, England, for treatment. He rejoined his unit in France during December 1917. Other than a few weeks leave in England during November 1918, Tiernan remained on active service in France until March 1919. Following his return from leave in December 1918, his unit, the 7th Artillery Brigade, staged a “Grand Christmas Concert” while stationed at Hautmont, near Mauberge, France on 26 December 1918. Tiernan sang the first song of the concert program, “Friend O’Mine”.

Tiernan was recommended by the commanding officer of the 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade for a Commander in Chief’s Congratulatory Card on 3 February 1919. He was one of three signallers recommended for this honour, who were acknowledged for the work that they had done at operation posts and accompanying officers in advances to establish forward operation posts.

Tiernan departed England aboard the troopship Zealandia on 11 May 1919 and arrived back in Australia on 1 July 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on 15 August 1919.

After the war, Tiernan returned to Randwick, where he was a member of the congregation of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church. In April 1926, he was noted as a baritone in the church choir and performed Hadyn’s “O Salutaris”, at the Christmas Day midnight mass in December 1926. Tiernan also performed at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the church parish in December 1935.

Tiernan’s wife, Alice, died in April 1948 and he married Vera Maude Willis in the same year. Tiernan continued to reside at Randwick then moved to Bowral, New South Wales in about 1963. Records gave his occupation as clerk. Roderick Tiernan died at Matraville, New South Wales, on 4 August 1964 at the age of 70. Vera Maud Tiernan died in 1983.