MCKINLAY, Alan
| Service Number: | 577 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 30 April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Nyngan, Bogan, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fort Street State School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Dysentery and Jaundice, Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England , 19 September 1915, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Reading Cemetery, England Named on CWGC Screen Wall 72.16607 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Petersham Fort Street High School Great War Honour Roll, Richmond University of Western Sydney WW1 Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Gunner, 577, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Gunner, 577, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Alan McKinlay's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Charles and Helen McKinlay, of "Barclay," Undercliff St., Neutral Bay, Sydney.
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
Alan McKinlay was born at Newcastle, New South Wales on 30th April, 1893 to parents Charles Colin and Helen Maria McKinlay (nee Rudder).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th August, 1914 as a 21 year old, single, Farmer from Demonstration Farm, Nyngan, NSW.
On 24th August, 1914 Alan McKinlay was posted as Gunner to 1st Brigade Ammunition Column.
Gunner Allan McKinley (as per Nominal Roll), Service number 577, embarked from Sydney on HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 18th October, 1914 with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Brigade Ammunition Column.
He was transferred to 3rd Battery, Field Artillery on 13th February, 1915.
On 4th April, 1915 Gunner McKinlay joined M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). He was admitted to No. 15 General Hospital at Alexandria on 7th April, 1915 with acute Arthritis.
He was admitted to No. 17 General Hospital at Alexandria on 1st May, 1915 with Rheumatic Fever. He embarked for Overseas from Alexandria on 27th May, 1915 on HMT Kingstonian.
Gunner Alan McKinlay, 577, of 3rd Australian Field Artillery Battery, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 3rd August, 1915. The notice appeared in the London Gazette on 15th September, 1915 & the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 30th December, 1915.
“For conspicuous gallantry on 8th June, 1915, south-west of Krithia, Gallipoli Peninsula. When a Company of Infantry had been forced by enfilade fire to vacate a trench, it was reported that one of their wounded had been left in the trench, which was now absolutely commanded by the enemy’s fire. Gunner McKinlay, with another man, volunteered to bring him in, and succeeded in doing so. It was a most gallant adventure, and showed a fine spirit of self-sacrifice.”
On 25th August, 1915 Gunner McKinlay was suffering from Jaundice & was transferred to No. 11 Lower Field Ambulance on Gallipoli Peninsula. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Cawdor Castle on 31st August, 1915.
He was admitted to Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England on 11th September, 1915 seriously sick.
Gunner Alan McKinlay died on 19th September, 1915 at Reading War Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, England from Dysentery and Jaundice.
He was buried in Reading Cemetery, Reading, Berkshire – Screen Wall. 72. 16607.
Those buried in Plot 72 & buried in other parts of the cemetery that do not have headstones marking their graves are named on the Memorial Screen Wall located near the Cross of Sacrifice. Their deaths are still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/reading.html
Click images to start slideshow.