According to information from the family Thomas Elliot Mooney was born on 30 October 1859 at Holm Orkney Scotland. According to his marriage certificate he married Hannan Stephenson on the 3rd of October 1883 in Sydney He gave his birthplace as Scotland and she gave hers as Victoria. An "EXTRACT" OF ENTRY No 72085, dated Melbourne 2 February 1982 states :-
Thomas Elliott MOONEY
Petty Officer
Aged 79 years
died at Williamstown
on 5 May 1939
Page 213 of THROUGH THE RIP states :-
McBain and Morwick, with the Minah, towed the old steamer Coogee down the river to Ann Street Pier in January 1928 for breaking up by Patrick O'Regan, who purchased the dismantled vessel for £10. The hull of Coogee was scuttled outside the Heads later that year. Minah towed her out and placed Tom Mooney of Kororoit Creek Road aboard to carry out the actual scuttling. Mooney was formerly boatswain of Cerberus and a member of the China Contingent. He died in his eightieth year during May 1939.
from Through the Rip, Ships & Seamen of Old Port Phillip. by Wilson P Evans.
More details on this person can be found in the Victorian Navy Certificates of Service This is a very large pdf file of 109 mb and takes 13 minutes to download with a 1.5 mbps internet connection.
China, 1900-1901 Nominal Roll - Thomas Elliott Mooney
Service number: 3
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Contingent: Victorian Naval Contingent
Conflict: China, 1900 - 1901
Date of embarkation: 30 July 1900
Ship embarked on: SS Salamis
Fate: Returned to Australia
Date of return: 25 April 1901
Ship returned on: SS Chingtu
Profile in The Australian Illustrated Encyclopaedia of The Boxer Uprising 1899-1901, Justin Corfield, Slouch Hat Publications, McCrae Australia, 2001.
On 3 March 1903 the Cerberus logbook reported that T. Mooney hurt his foot.
NAVAL VETERAN RETIRES
A FAMILIAR naval figure severed his connection with the Commonwealth Naval Forces yesterday in the person of Warrant Officer Thomas E. Mooney. Remarkable for his upright carriage and physique, and the adornment of his uniform cap with the red, white and blue streamers denoting him the navy's chief recruiting sergeant, "Old Tom" was a noteworthy personality among the adventurous youth of Melbourne and Williamstown ambitious of "a life on the briny." As long back as 1886 he was identified with the then Victorian navy. Next he worked for the Harbor trust and the Railway Department. Two months before Christmas of 1888 he rejoined the naval arm, was identified with the H.M.S. Nelson and Cerberus, and graduating through all ratings achieved his retiring position.
The Argus, 27 November 1920
When H.M.S. Nelson was flagship of the Australian station there joined our service from that ship a boatswain's mate, Thomas Mooney by name. He had a deep voice that could be heard all over the ship. It was no use giving as an excuse, "I didn't hear the pipe," when Mooney piped the orders. A magnificent specimen of manhood, strong as a lion and as game, he was possibly one of the best known and liked men that ever entered the service. It was punishment for him to have to wear boots. The soles of his feet were like leather. After reaching the retiring age he joined the tug service, and when close on 80 years of age was still at work on the tugs, a very active and strong man. He is, I believe, still on deck, hale and hearty.
Recollections by G. Prideaux from The West Australian, 7 August 1937
Mr T. E. Mooney who died at his residence, Kororoit - creek Road North Williamstown, on Friday, in his 80th year, was a veteran of the Victorian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. He was one of the oldest naval men in the state. He arrived in Victoria in 1884, and as a naval man in the colonial period served on the old Cerberus as a boatswain. He was with the China contingent, and was a recruiting officer in the Great War. Later he was a caretaker of the Memorial Hall, until failing health compelled his retirement. The funeral left his residence on Monday for the cemetery. Nelson Bros. had charge of the arrangements.
Deceased was accorded a naval funeral.
The Argus, 13 May 1939
