MCPHAIL, John Herbert Smith
| Service Number: | 2860 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 July 1916, 1st class Signalman |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 44th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bishopbourne, Tasmania, Australia, 10 June 1885 |
| Home Town: | Penguin, Central Coast, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Marrickville, NSW, 4 September 1961, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 44th Infantry Battalion, 1st class Signalman | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2860, 44th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2860, 44th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Persic, Fremantle |
John Herbert Smith McPhail
John Herbert Smith McPhail was born in Penguin, Tasmania on 10th June 1885. He was one of 13 Children - 7 boys and 6 girls.
He joined the 2nd 44th Army Corps. He served as a 1st Class Signalman in France until 1919. He was a quiet man who spoke little of his experiences or the war although he did say that he witnessed the bringing down of the German ace Pilot known as "The Red Baron" (This would place him near Sailley-le-Sec Somme, France 21st April 1918).
Shortly after his discharge from the Army he was awarded a medal from the Arnott Family for saving their daughter "Miss Arnott" from drowning at Penguin, Tasmania.
He very seldom complained about his breathing difficulties, probably from the mustard gas, and his feet were affected by "trench feet". His feet always bothered him as well as troubled sleep because of nightmares.
After the war he returned to Tasmania, and shortly after went to Western Australia where he met his wife to be Kathleen Lindley, In Perth he opened up a butcher shop and continued as a butcher until he died in 1961. He had one daughter, Marjorie McPhail (now m. Finch).
Submitted 21 December 2018 by Frank Fraser OAM
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