Colin Smith MCKELLAR

MCKELLAR, Colin Smith

Service Number: 2413
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 1st Field Company Engineers
Born: Scotland, date not yet discovered
Home Town: Bankstown, Bankstown, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Illness, United Kingdom, 18 June 1918, age not yet discovered
Cemetery: Colchester Cemetery, Essex, United Kingdom
T. 6. 2.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

11 Dec 1915: Involvement Driver, 2413, 1st Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
11 Dec 1915: Embarked Driver, 2413, 1st Field Company Engineers, RMS Mooltan, Sydney

Help us honour Colin Smith McKellar's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

He was 25 and the son of Alexander and Flora Ann McKellar, of Delwood St., Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales.

 

                                      INSCRIPTION
THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF MR. & MRS. McKELLAR OF SYDNEY. LATE GLASGOW

 

Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 18th June…… Colin Smith McKellar was born in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland on 24th July, 1892.

According to information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour – Colin arrived in Australia when he was 22 years old. His father also stated the Colin had received a silver medal for Honorary Assistant Instructor to Boys Brigade Gymnasium in Glasgow. Colin had also been the youngest bugler in Scottish Territorials, being only 15 years of age.

The McKellar family were passengers on the Berrima which departed from the port of London, England on 11th June, 1914. The family consisted of Alexander McKellar (Coachman, aged 49), Colin McKellar (Brassmoulder, aged 21), Mrs Flora McKellar (wife, aged 49), Agnes McKellar (aged 20), Mary McKellar (aged 16) & Flora McKellar (aged 11).

 

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th September, 1915 as a 23 year old, single, Brassmoulder from Allum Street, Bankstown, NSW. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with 6th H.L.I. (Highland Light Infantry) at Glasgow for 4 years.

Driver Colin Smith McKellar, Service number 2413, embarked from Sydney, NSW on RMS Mooltan on 11th December, 1915 with the 1st Field Company Engineers, 12th Reinforcements.

On 23rd March, 1916 he proceeded to Serapeum from Zeitoun on 23rd March, 1916. He was taken on strength of 1st Field Company, Australian Engineers on 13th April, 1916.

He reported sick on 10th December, 1916 & was admitted to Anzac M.D.S. (Main Dressing Station) on 11th December, 1916 then transferred the same day to 36th Casualty Clearing Station with Influenza. Driver McKellar was transferred & admitted to 10th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 13th December, 1916 with Influenza. He was transferred to 2nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen on 17th December, 1916. Driver McKellar was discharged to Base Details at Etaples, France on 19th December, 1916. He rejoined 1st Field Company in France on 26th December, 1916 from Hospital.

Driver Colin Smith McKellar was on 10 days furlough from 27th July, 1917 & returned from furlough on 10th August, 1917.

On 4th October, 1917 he reported sick & was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance in France with Ptomaine Poisoning (food poisoning). Driver McKellar was transferred & admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital on 9th October, 1917. He embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Denis on 11th October, 1917.

He was admitted to Kitchener’s Military Hospital at Brighton, England on 11th October, 1917 with Ptomaine poisoning. He was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 12th November, 1917. Driver McKellar was transferred to Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 14th November, 1917.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training & convalescing was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire & also the county of Dorset.

Driver Colin Smith McKellar was marched in to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England on 14th November, 1917. He was medically classified as B1 B (Observation) on 16th November, 1917. On 26th November, 1917 & 11th December, 1917 Driver McKellar was medically classified as B1 A1 (fit for light duty only – 4 weeks). He was medically classified on 13th December, 1917 as B1 A2 (fit for overseas training camp in three to four weeks).

On 1st January, 1918 Driver McKellar was taken on strength of Permanent Cadre of No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire.

He was absent from 8.30 am Parade on 7th April, 1918 & was awarded 3 days Confined to Camp by Major A. G. Simpson.

Driver McKellar was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deveril, Wiltshire on 18th April, 1918 from No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott.

On 3rd May, 1918 Driver was marched in to Engineers Training Depot at Brightlingsea, England from Overseas Training Brigade.

He was sent sick to Colchester Hospital on 16th June, 1918 with Influenza. Driver McKellar was reported as seriously ill with Pneumonia & Influenza on 16th June, 1918.

 

Driver Colin Smith McKellar died at 3.35 pm on 18th June, 1918 at General Military Hospital, Colchester, Essex, England from Broncho Pneumonia.

He was buried in Colchester Cemetery, Colchester, Essex, England where 10 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/colchester.html

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