Military Funeral.
The Friends of Mrs ALICE B. O'DRISCOLL (and Family) are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of her late HUSBAND, Private PATRICK O'DRISCOLL, which will leave the Dunedin Hospital on THURSDAY, the 29th inst., at 2.15 o clock, for the Northern Cemetery.
A. S. ARCHER & CO., Military Funeral Directors. -Otago Daily Times, 27/8/1918.
Private Patrick O'Driscoll, who went away with the 13th Reinforcements, returned as an invalid some months ago, and died at the Dunedin Hospital on Monday. He was blown up on the battlefield in France, and came back suffering from shell shock. As a young man he was a wellknown Rugby player, and had a place in the Kaikorai team. He was a plumber by trade, and for a while was in partnership with Mr F. Blundell, afterwards being in business on his own account. He had the reputation of being a first-class tradesman, and he was a remarkably strong man. He died at the age of 42, and is survived by his wife and three sons. Being widely known and respected, there was a large attendance of personal friends and members of the M.U.I.O.O.F. at the military burial in the Northern Cemetery yesterday. Major Greenhough represented the Defence Office. Returned soldiers acted as pallbearers, and the firing party of the R.N.Z.A. was under the command of Sergeant Dawson. The Rev. O. H. Jupp conducted the burial service. -Evening Star, 30/8/1918.
Patrick O'Driscoll, before joining the Army, had experienced one or two fainting fits. He had also experienced between one half and one full bottle of whisky daily. His diagnosis on being discharged as unfit for military service mentions this, and a pre-existing heart condition which was causing occasional loss of consciousness and chest pains.
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