Ed O'TOOLE

Edward O'Toole lived in Oodnadatta. He worked with his brother in law, George Marousen, who had the mail contract to deliver the Royal Mail from the end of the rail line in Oodnadatta to Alice Springs. During World War One, Edward joined the AIF, 50th Battalion, on 2 July 1916 at the age of 42. He was killed in action in France near the village of Noreuil on 28 March 1917. He is buried at the Vaulx-Vraucourt war cemetery. Here is a link to the record of his burial at the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/614625/EDWARD%20O'TOOLE/ Edward's parents were Joseph and Honora O'Toole, who were from Clifden, Ireland. They settled in St Peters, Adelaide. Joseph died in 1916, Honora in 1922. Edward's siblings were: - Jean O'Toole. Also arrived on the SS Trevelyan in 1876, age 5. Married George Marousen of Oodnadatta. Died 1950s, Pearcedale, Victoria. - Joseph O'Toole, racehorse trainer, moved to Perth and later (1916) to Melbourne. For a time in the 1920s, lived in India and worked as personal racehorse trainer to the Nizam of Hyderabad. Married Eleanor Donnelly. Three children. Died 1955, Melbourne, Victoria. - Thomas O'Toole of Hackney, Adelaide. Died around 1926. - Nancy O'Toole, died 1950s? Moved to Perth, WA. Married Alf Enright, a footballer, life member of Norwood FC, one time president of the WAFL and publisher of the Daily News, Perth, around the time of the First World War, one time councillor and Mayor of Guildford, WA. - Mary O'Toole, died 1950s. Moved to Subiaco, Perth, WA. Married George Walder, footballer. - Larry O'Toole, died 1961 in Alice Springs. Served in the 9th Light Horse during First World War in Palestine. Returned to Oodnadatta. Before the war, Larry was a boundary rider. After the war, he worked variously as a mail contractor, well digger, and opal miner. Credited with discovering the Mintabie opal fields in 1922 while digging wells. Father of Monty O'Toole, Mary Hammond and Georgina Dingaman. Descendants of Monty still live in Coober Pedy, Port Augusta and elsewhere in SA. Edward O'Toole was my great-uncle, being the brother of my grandfather Joseph O'Toole.