MCVINISH, Alexander Ogilvie
| Service Number: | 5440 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | 1889, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Bundaberg, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker |
| Died: | 1976, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5440, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5440, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Itonus embarkation_ship_number: A50 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5440, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Itonus, Brisbane | |
| 27 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5440, 26th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Alexander Ogilvie McVinish's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
When two brothers, Colin John McVinish (Snr) and George McVinish, migrated to Australia from Scotland in the late 1800's, they had no idea they would be starting a chain of events that would lead to members of their family taking part in virtually every conflict involving Australian troops that followed.
The two brothers and their wives produced their fair share of offspring who between them and their progeny fought in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the war in Vietnam.
Colin John McVinish (Snr) and his wife Helen Gerrie McVinish produced 11 children.
Their eldest son, also Colin John, led the way by joining the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen contingent, fighting in the Transvaal, Cape Colony and Orange Free State before being invalided back to Australia in June 1902. He went on to join the 12th Army Brigade, Australian Field Artillery, in World War I, and fought in France.
Five of their sons (including Colin John) served in World War I. The others were:-
BROTHERS:-
39313 Gunner Colin John McVinish (jnr)
- served in Boer War (#95)
- served in WWI as a Gunner with 12th Field Artillery Brigade. Returned to Australia on 12 July 1919.
Private James Gerrie McVinish
- who was in the navy at the mine and submarine base on Swan Island, Victoria
2263 Air Mechanic Edwin Plastow McVinish
- who served with the Australian Flying Corps in England. Returned to Australia 6 May 1919.
1714 Air Mechanic William Gerrie McVinish
- who started in the army and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps early in 1918. Returned to Australia 13 December 1918.
Two of George's sons also served in World War I:-
COUSINS:-
Able Seaman George Bannatime McVinish
- joined the Queensland Navy before Federation in 1901, sailing on the gunboat Gayundah,
patrolling the Queensland coast and chasing pearl poachers off the northern coast of Australia
before being sent with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to New Guinea.
6363 Private John McVinish
- fought in France with the 25th Battalion. Returned to Australia 26/9/1917.
Wife, Mrs Emily Florence McVinish (b.1889 - d. 1974), c/o W W Eldridge, Ruthven Street, Toowomba, Queensland
daughter Beryl McVinish (b. 1915 - d. 1998)
Son Alexander McVinish (b. 1919 - d. 1968)
Daughter Florence McVinish (b. 1921 - d. 2002)
Daughter Dorren McVinish (b. 1923)
Son David McVinish (b. 1931 - d. 2004)
Described on enlisting as 26 yrs 11 mths old; married; 5' 6.5" tall; 124 lbs;
medium complexion; hazel eyes; brown hair; Presbyterian
13/3/1916 enlisted in Bundabert, QLD
place of enlisting Brisbane, QLD
8/6/1916 promoted to Corporal
26/7/1916 appointed to 14th reinforcements, 26th Battalion, Enoggera Camp
8/8/1916 embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A50 Itonus
as a Private in 14th reinforcement, 26th Battalion
18/10/1916 disembarked into Plymouth, England
18/10/1916 marched in from overseas to 7th Training Battalion, England
8/11/1916 to be Acting Sergeant, with EDP, England
16/1/1917 proceeding overseas to France, onboard Princess Clementine
17/1/1917 reverted to Private in 26th Battalion in France
18/1/1917 appointed Acting Sergeant EDP, at 2nd Australian Division Base Depot, France
6/2/1917 reverted to Private
12/2/1917 Private - taken on strength from 14th reinforcements, to 26th Battalion
22/2/1917 sick to hospital
12/3/1917 embarked onboard hospital ship HS Grantully Caslte for England, ex Havre, France
13/3/1917 admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol - with trench feet
16/7/1917 proceeded overseas to France, ex Perham Downs
31/7/1917 rejoined unit in France
7/10/1917 gun shot wound to face (severe) - received in action France
13/10/1917 embarked onboard hospital ship HS Jan Breydel for England
13/10/1917 admitted to King George Military Hospital, London, England
2/11/1917 transferred to 3rd Auxillary, Darford, England
23/11/1917 granted furlo (leave)
7/12/1917 returned to duty at Hurdcott
4/3/1918 proceeded overseas to France
9/3/1918 rejoined unit
18/4/1918 sick to hospital, France
20/4/1918 admitted to L of C Hospital, France
8/5/1918 discharged to Base Depot, France
8/8/1916 apppointed to Vice Corporal, England
29/8/1916 gun shot wound to right hand - wounded in action, France
1/9/1918 invalided to UK, ex France
2/9/1918 admitted to 4th Southern General Hospital, Plymouth, England
18/9/1918 appointed to Vice Sergeant
19/10/1918 reverts to Private
23/10/1918 marched in to Admin Headquarters Hurdcott, England
24/10/1918 Sick with Influenza, admitted to Military Hospital
14/11/1918 discharged to Training Depot
18/12/1918 returned to Australia onboard HMAT Aeneas, ex England
27/3/1919 discharged from service
Medals: British War medal (19983) and Victory medal (19383)
1976 passed away
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 12/6/2016. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.