Private Alexander Moran

Alexander Moran was born in Sydney on 6 October 1894 to parents Patrick James Moran and Elizabeth Mary Moran (née Cruikshank). He was the third born in a family of six sons and four daughters.

Moran was an engineer and completed a four year apprenticeship at the Caldwell Vale Truck & Bus Co at Auburn, New South Wales. At the time of his enlistment, he was serving in the 31st Infantry Regiment at Leichhardt as part of his compulsory militia training.

Moran enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Warwick Farm, New South Wales, on 13 September 1915. He served for 55 days until discharged to work in a munitions factory. He re-enlisted in the AIF at Sydney on 9 October 1916 and was attached to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 2nd Squadron Australian Flying Corps (AFC). He embarked from Melbourne on the troopship Orsova on 6 December 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England, on 3 March 1917.

After disembarking, Moran was sent to the AFC depot at Perham Downs and on 6 April 1917 was taken on strength with No. 2 Squadron AFC (also referred to by the British as 68 Squadron Royal Flying Corps) at their training facility at Harlaxton. From April to September 1917, the squadron underwent training. Moran was remustered from fitter and turner to 2nd Air Mechanic in June 1917. The squadron was sent to France on 21 September 1917 and Moran remained with his unit in the field, with leave in Paris in October 1917. Until the end of 1917, the squadron was based at Baizieux, France and was involved in the third battle of Ypes and the battle of Cambrai.

During January or February 1918, the squadron organised a farewell concert for their commanding officer, Major Walter Watt, who had been reassigned to England. The concert presented by The Kookaburras of No. 2 Squadron AFC included a performance by Moran singing “That Old Home town of Mine”.

Moran was promoted to 1st Air Mechanic in August 1918 and was granted leave to Paris in October 1918. After further leave in England during January 1919, Moran rejoined his unit in February. The squadron was withdrawn to England in March 1919 in preparation for returning to Australia.

Moran embarked from England for Australia on the troopship Kaiser-i-Hind on 8 May 1919 and disembarked on 19 June. He was discharged on 27 July 1919.

After his discharge, Moran appears to have returned to his occupation as an engineer. He married Ellen Josephine Davis at Petersham, New South Wales, in 1927 and the couple had three children. They lived in the same house in the Sydney suburb of Croydon from 1930 until Moran’s death in 1980.

Moran was appointed as a teacher of fitting and machining at the West Sydney Metropolitan Technical College on 1 October 1945.
Alexander Moran died at Enfield, New South Wales, on 12 July 1980 at the age of 85. Ellen Moran died at Ashfield, New South Wales, on 1 September 1995 at the age of 97.