MCGINLEY, William Henry
| Service Number: | 6845 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 18 November 1897 |
| Home Town: | Macquarie Plains, Derwent Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Hobart State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Orchardist |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 8 October 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tyne Cot Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Plot XL, Row F, Grave No. 1. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Cygnet Soldiers Memorial |
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William’s older brother, 3191 Pte. Walter McGinley 15th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917, aged 25.
They were the sons of James and Amy McGinley, of Macquarie Plains, Tasmania. Their mother Amy had passed away during 1905, when they were still very young and it seems from their files that the father became an alcoholic and basically abandoned the children.
William died in the heavy fighting near Passchendaele in Belgium on 8 October 1917 and his remains were found and identified through letters found with the remains, in late 1920.
William named his next of kin as his married sister Dolly, and also made a will her in her favour. His medals were eventually sent to his sister Dolly, under bond, after she made several representations to the AIF as to how their father had not properly cared for them after their mother died.
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