Mooney John Pte 4457971
Personnel Entry
Name Mooney John (known as Jack)
Army number 4457971
Rank Private'
Decorations None beyond Service Awards, as far as is known.
Date of birth Born 1918/19 - registered in Auckland District January 2019. MOther's maiden surname Kerr.
Age 26 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry, T, no enlistment date yet, but he is likely to have joined in Summer/Autumn 1939, judging by his Regimental Number. Possibly posted to 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Posted to the 12th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry - probably 1/9/1939. Transferred to the Black Watch 1/2/1940, and posted to the 1st Tyneside Scottish. Served with the B.E.F. in Northern France. Reported missing (a report to this effect appeared in the Auckland Chronicle on 18/7/1940). Later notified as having been taken Prisoner of War. DIED whilst a Prisoner of War in German hands 16/4/45, Authority: PoW/9 and Serial No. 82.
Company/Battery Not yet known.
Platoon or other sub-unit Not yet known.
Task or role Rifleman.
Joined Brigade Probably 1/9/1939 on its establishment.
Promotions None known.
Wounded Not so far as is known.
Prisoner of War Yes - Camp Number 344, Prisoner number 15946.
Died/Killed in action Died 16-Apr-1945. Cause of death not yet known. Buried initially in Mariort Churchyard. Remains disinterred 6/9/1947 and moved to Grave 3.A.15. Durnbach War Cemetery. No headstone inscription. Pte Mooney is commemorated on the West Auckland War Memorial [1] and the Church Lads' Brigade Memorial [2]in St Helen's Church, St Helen Auckland - both Memorials having been documented by the Lead Researcher and Mrs Dixon as part of their work with NEWMP.
Home address Research suggests Pte Mooney was born in Auckland District in 1918/19. Father was James Mooney, and his mother was Jane (nee Kerr) and that he was a resident of West Auckland, County Durham at the time of his death. His parents were listed in the Auckland Chronicle as Mr and Mrs Gilbey of Front Street, West Auckland. His natural father, born around 1898, was in the Navy in the First World War and died, aged 27, in January 1925 of wounds received in action. His mother remarried, in January 1932, to an Albert E. Gilbey - hence the newspaper report in the Auckland Chronicle of his death identify the couple as his parents. Mr Gilbey served in the Special War Reserve Police Force.
Source table 1TS
It is understood that Local Historian Kevin Richardson has been researching Private Mooney's background and the results of his work are included within the Page above. Kevin's work in this regard is much appreciated.
It is possible that the cause of his death is set out in the German PoW Camp records, held,we are aware, by the Red Cross. However, we understand the Red Cross is refusing to either search the PoW archives or permit them to be searched at present. It is hoped that this situation can be remedied so that closure may be obtained for the families of deceased PoWs.
