MCFARLANE, John
| Service Number: | 4584 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gladesville, New South Wales, Australia , 2 November 1886 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 2 January 1918, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lancashire Cottage Cemetery III. D. 7. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4584, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4584, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
John MCFARLANE (Service Number 4584) was born on 2nd November 1886 at Gladesville, NSW. He first worked for the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a tram conductor in Sydney from 25th July 1908. On 15th November 1915 he became an acting electric tram driver. He was released from this duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 6th January 1916. McFarlane had actually enlisted in the AIF at Casula in December 1915. Initially he was allotted to the 10th Reinforcements to the 18th Battalion. He gave his wife Lottie McFarlane, living in Gladesville, as his next of kin.
McFarlane embarked HMAT ‘Nestor’ at Sydney on 9th April 1916. By September 1916 he proceeded overseas to France and joined the 18th Battalion on 23rd September.
He was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he failed to go through the unloading motions before easing the springs of his rifle, thereby firing a round. The penalty for this offence was the loss of two days’ pay.
On 25th October he was hospitalised with an injured hand, though this was the result of an accident, not hostile action. It was 10th December, after a time at the 5th Convalescent Camp and at the Base Depot, before he was fit for front line service again.
On 30th April he was in trouble again and charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he tendered a forged voucher for liquor to the Expeditionary Force Canteen. This cost him 14 days’ pay.
McFarlane was killed in action in Belgium on 2nd January 1918. He is buried in the Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Wallonie, Belgium.
Pensions were granted to his widow, Lottie, and their daughter Louise May.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.