DARRACH, Duncan William
| Service Number: | 369 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 April 1916, Townsville, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Winton, Winton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sheep Overseer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 21 April 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Winton & District Roll of Honour WW1, Winton Methodist Church Roll of Honour, Winton Waltzing Matilda Centre Roll of Honour, Winton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 369, 3rd Machine Gun Company, Townsville, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 369, 3rd Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 369, 3rd Machine Gun Company, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne | |
| 17 Mar 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 22nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 29 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 22nd Machine Gun Company |
Help us honour Duncan William Darrach'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 James Temple Darrach and Amelia Thane Darrach, of Winton, Queensland.
Embarked Melbourne, 19 September 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 14 November 1916; marched into Australian Details, No 3 Camp, Parkhouse, 15 November 1916.
Marched into Australian Machine Gun Training Depot, Grantham, 23 November 1916.
Admitted to Belton Park Hospital, 9 January 1917; marched into Australian Machine Gun Training Depot, Grantham, 24 January 1917.
Taken on strength of 22nd Machine Gun Company, 17 March 1917 and Proceeded overseas to France, 17 March 1917.
Promoted Lance Corporal, 29 March 1917.
Killed in action, 21 April 1917.
The news of the untimely demise of Lance-Corporal Duncan William Darrach, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Darrach, very old and much respected residents of this town, cast quite a gloom over the whole populace. Word was received by telegram on Tuesday evening that he was killed in France on the 21st April, his fate being sealed by a mine exposion, which caused his premature burial. He enlisted here just 12 months back, but only took his stand in the firing line with the Machine Gun section in March last. His young brother, Alex, who volunteered before him, was wounded as far back as July, and is again on active service in France.
Duncan was of a very quiet, retiring disposition, and a universal favourite, and it is with deep regret that the community heard the distressing news and much genuine sympathy is expressed towards the bereaved parents and realtives. It is such cases as these that make us ponder as to the great sacrifices the boys of Australia are offering on our behalf. Winton's Roll of Honour is gradually increasing as the casualty lists come forward from time to time.
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