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Named in honour of Patrick James Moynihan
Patrick James Moynihan was born on 19th August 1888, son of Mr and Mrs Patrick Moynihan of Wallangarra Queensland.
Prior to joining the Police Force on the 20th February 1913 Patrick was employed as a shunter with Queensland Railways at Wallangarra. On completion of training Patrick Moynihan was sworn in as a Constable on the 4 July 1913 and stationed at Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Following the outbreak of World War I Constable Moynihan, as did many other police officers of the day, volunteered for war service and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces on the 17 October 1914. Private Moynihan, Service Number 1130, following initial training was attached to the 9th Battalion AIF. On the 22 December 1914 Private Moynihan boarded His Majesty's Australian Transport (H.M.A.T) A.32 "Themistocles" at Melbourne and sailed to Egypt for deployment to France. His division was ordered to land at Gallipoli on the 24 April 1915. On the 25 April 1915, 26-year-old Private Moynihan became the first Australian police officer to die at Gallipoli when he was killed-in-action by Turkish small-arms fire. It is reported that he had died on the Turkish side of the front line after he and other members of his company, who had advanced under intense fire from the Turks, were forced into a fighting withdrawal. As the Australian troops withdrew to their own lines Private Moynihan was said to have been shot in the head. Continued fire from the Turks did not allow his colleagues to recover his body or his identification disc. Private Moynihan was officially reported as 'Missing in Action' on the 25 April 1915. On the 5 June 1916 following a Defence Force enquiry it was declared the he was 'Killed in Action, 25 April 1915". Patrick James Moynihan, Private number 1130, 9th Bn., Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Forces, death in action is commemorated at the Commonwealth War Graves, Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey and at the Australian War Memorial. His body was never recovered. On the 6th November 1995 the Queensland Police Vessel "P.J. MOYNIHAN" was officially commissioned and named by Police Minister Paul Braddy. Constable Moynihan's closest living relative, his nephew's widow Catherine Moynihan of Kallangur, north of Brisbane attended the ceremony. The "P.J. MOYNIHAN" was attached to the Wynnum District Water Police. Qld Police Vessel "P. J. MOYNIHAN" - Brisbane |
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| "P. J. MOYNIHAN"
The "P.J.MOYNIHAN" is a Haines Hunter 680 SF (Hull Number 337), 6.8 metre glass reinforced fibre speed boat, powered by a single 250 HP Johnson Outboard Motor. |
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