Duncan MCHUTCHISON

MCHUTCHISON, Duncan

Service Number: 5856
Enlisted: 12 June 1916
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 23rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Ascot Vale, Essendon, Vic., 1890
Home Town: Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: Essendon State School No 483, Scotch College Melbourne
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Killed in Action, France, 24 April 1918
Cemetery: Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme
IV B 8, Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Ribemont, Picardie, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Essendon State School No 483 Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

12 Jun 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5856, 23rd Infantry Battalion
2 Oct 1916: Involvement Private, 5856, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: ''
2 Oct 1916: Embarked Private, 5856, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne
24 Apr 1918: Involvement Corporal, 5856, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5856 awm_unit: 23 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-24

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of James and Agnes MCHUTCHISON, Bagley Street, Brighton, Victoria

Dear Miss Deakin
In answer to your letter enquiring for details of the death of 5856 Cpl D McHutchinson/ I was his mate & at the time of his death we occupied the same dugout together.  It was in reserve trenches, behind Melancourt near Albert.  He had occasion to leave the trench for a few minutes& on his way back he was killed by a shell.  It was an instantaneous death.  Knowing him so well as I did there was no possible doubt about his identity.  Our Battalion padre being available at the time he was buried in a soldiers cemetery, alongside the civil cemetery of Henencourt on the right of the road leading from that place  Melancourt.  I collected what personal belongings he had with wallet photos, etc, & handed them over to the padre who forwarded them on to his people.  As to Cpl McHutchison's personal appearance he was 28 years of age, very small in stature, & of boyish appearance.
Yours faithfully
Cpl N G Secombe
A Coy 23rd Battn
AIF

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