Michael James Mooney – Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

Trooper Michael James Mooney – Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

Early Life

Michael James Mooney was born in 1912 at Swansea, the son of James Mooney and Annie Coffey. His childhood unfolded within a large Irish‑born family settled in the industrial districts of Landore.

1921 Census 

1921 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, the Mooney family were living at 42 Wysydd Road, Landore, Swansea, where Irish‑born James Mooney, aged 47, was employed as a Refinery Labourer with N.O.R.P.I.E., Swansea, and his Irish‑born wife Annie, also 47, managed the household. Their adult daughter Mary, aged 22, worked as a General Domestic Servant, while Tom, aged 17, was a Shoemaker employed by Mr Northcoate of Pentre‑grave Road, Swansea. Jack, aged 16, was recorded as an Oil Refiner Labourer with the Persian Oil Company, though noted as out of employ at the time of the census. The youngest child, Michael, aged 9, was attending school.

Marriage

In 1939, Michael married Ivy M. Morgan, establishing his own household on the eve of the Second World War.

Military Service

Michael served as a Trooper with the Royal Armoured Corps, attached to the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, one of the Army’s distinguished Territorial cavalry regiments converted to armoured warfare. Troopers of the Yeomanry saw demanding service in armoured reconnaissance and tank operations across multiple theatres of the war.

Michael James Mooney
Morriston Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Death and Burial

Michael died on 6 March 1945, during the final months of the conflict. He was laid to rest at Morriston Cemetery, where his grave forms part of the wartime burials recorded for 1945.