Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Archibald Hugh McAlpine was a twin, born in 1883 along with his sister Elizabeth at Tarraville, Gippsland, Victoria. He was one of nine children of James Hugh McAlpine [1840-1924] and Margaret Ann Smith [1851-1939]. His father owned and operated a butchery business. After leaving Tarraville in the late 1890s, James and Margaret McAlpine lived with their family for over a decade in Bendigo, where they operated accommodation and boarding house facilities. Shortly before World War 1 the couple retired to the Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick.

Archie McAlpine moved to New Zealand in the early 1900s and was working as a horse trainer at Patearoa, Otago when he signed up for war. He listed farmer, Edward Francis (Frank) Blakley, a member of a well known Otago family, as his New Zealand contact in his attestation papers when he enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Trentham, just north of Wellington on 12 January 1916. Frank Blakley had taken up land at Patearoa in 1895.

Archie was posted to D Company of the 12th Reinforcements of the Otago Infantry Battalion and embarked from Wellington in early May 1916 on HMNZT 51, Ulimaroa.

Taken on strength of the 2nd Otago Battalion on 22 September 1916, 11315 Private Archibald McAlpine would become a victim of the Battle of the Somme just 10 days later, dying of wounds in the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly on Monday, 2 October 1916. He was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery.

A tree was later planted in Archibald Hugh McAlpine's memory in the Caufield Avenue of Honour on North Road.

The Avenue of Honour on North and Nepean Roads was a joint collaboration between the Brighton and Caulfield Councils to commemorate those who had served in  World War One. The final planting in North Road took place on Anzac Day 1919.  In the 1960s, the avenue of trees was removed due to road widening. The Caufield Memorial Stone in Caufield Park now marks the North Road Avenue of Honour - its bronze plaque lists the names of the fallen from Caufield, including Private A.H. McAlpine.  

Archie McAlpine is also remembered at Bendigo, being listed on St. John's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

Reference: https://www.familytreecircles.com/clareville-52143.html

Archibald McAlpine was the son of Mr & Mrs McAlpine, of 225 Charles St, Elsternwick, Vic.   He was the brother of Mrs J. Y. Hope of Bendigo.   No other Bendigo connection has been found.

He served in the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F., with Service No. 11315. 

Archibald McAlpine Died of Wounds on 2.10.16 at the age of 31.    He was buried in Grave V B 40  at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, France.

Newspapers in Bendigo published the following notice:  ‘On the 2nd October, died from wounds received in action in France, Archibald Hugh, aged 32, of New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, second son of J. H. and M. A. M’Alpine, 22 Charles-street, Elsternwick, loving brother of Ronald, Mrs Hands (Dandenong), Percy E.A. McAlpine, Mrs Gamble (Elsternwick), Mrs C Wilson (Harcourt), and Mrs J. Y. Hope (of Bendigo).

“He rose responsive to the Empire’s call,

And gave his strength, his life, his all.”’

[Bendigonian, 19 October, 1916]   

“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone