MCGILP, Neil Malcolm
| Service Number: | 22948 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1916, Enlisted in Horsham, Victoria, for 1st reinforcements of 8th Fld Arty Bde. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery |
| Born: | Minyip, Victoria, Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Horsham, Wimmera, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, May 1940, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Hamilton Public Cemetery, Victoria PRES-XXXI-16 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 22948, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , Enlisted in Horsham, Victoria, for 1st reinforcements of 8th Fld Arty Bde. | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 22948, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 20 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 22948, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Medic, Melbourne | |
| 15 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 3rd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries | |
| 14 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 3rd Division Medium and Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries, Attached to X3A Medium Trench Mortar Battery | |
| 14 Mar 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Bombardier, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Detached to 3rd DAC | |
| 1 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 15 Feb 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Reallotted following reorganisation of the Brigade. | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 22948, 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Suffered gunshot wound to right thigh in France. | |
| 4 Sep 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 22948, 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Embarked aboard HMHS Grantully Castle for return to England. | |
| 7 Apr 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 22948, 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Embarked in Alexandria aboard HMT Dunluce Castle, for return to Australia. | |
| 29 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 22948, 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery, Discharged in 3rd Military District Victoria, due to termination of period of enlistment. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Neil Malcolm McGILP was born in 1888 in Minyip, Victoria, Australia, the equal youngest (a twin) of nine children born to parents Annie (nee McDOUGALL) and Alexander McGILP.
A 28 year old single farmer at the time, Neil enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Horsham, Victoria on the 28th of April 1916. He was assigned as a Gunner with the regimental number 22948 with the 1st reinforcements for the 8th Field Artillery Brigade. Following completion of recruit training at Maribyrnong Camp, Neil embarked in Melbourne on 20th May 1916 aboard HMAT "Medic" for active service overseas.
The 8th FAB arrived in Durban, South Africa, on the morning of 12th June 1916, and after one night proceeded to Cape Town, arriving on the 16th. There they spent 6 days, completing one route march through the town, with one officer making the observation that the locals appeared to be "decidedly pro-German". They departed on 22nd June, along with three other troopships and an armed cruiser as escort, heading North up the West coast of Africa.
The HMAT "Medic" arrived in Plymouth, England, on the night of the 18th July 1916, the Brigade disembarking and entraining by midnight. They proceeded to Camp 16 at Larkhill on the Salisbury Plain, where they separated into Batteries, and were allocated to train with various Royal Field Artillery (British) Batteries from their Reserve Brigade.
On 15th September 1916, while still undergoing intensive training at Larkhill Camp, Neil was taken on strength with the 3rd Divisional Trench Mortar Brigade. It was with the X3A Medium Trench Mortar Battery (part of the 3rd Div. T.M. Bde.) that he proceeded to France, on 23rd November 1916.
On 14th January 1917, Neil was promoted to the rank of Bombardier. Two months later, he was detached to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, with whom he remained until 15th February 1918, when he was reallotted to the 6th Medium Trench Mortar Battery after reorganisation of the Brigade.
On 1st September 1918, Neil was wounded in action when he sustained a gunshot wound to the right thigh. He was evacuated by the 15th Field Ambulance to the 37th Casualty Clearing Station in Vecquemont, France. From there, he was transferred to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen. On 4th September, Neil was embarked for return to England on the Hospital Ship "Grantully Castle", and was admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital the following day. He remained there until after the Armistice.
On 19th December 1918, Neil had recovered sufficiently to be transferred to the No. 1 Australian Auxilliary Hospital in Harefield, for rehabilitation. He was discharged to furlo on 23rd December, after which he returned on 6th January 1919 to the No. 4 Command Depot in Hurdcott.
On 16th March 1919, Neil embarked in England for Alexandria, where he boarded the HMAT "Dunluce Castle" for return to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 15th May. He was subsequently discharged in 3rd Military District, Victoria, on 29th June 1919 due to the termination of his period of enlistment. Neil was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.
Neil Malcolm McGILP died in May 1940 in Hamilton, Victoria, and is buried in the Hamilton General Cemetery. He was 52 years old, and had never married.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record), Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australian War Memorial (8th FAB Unit War Diaries), and The Horsham Times of 7th June 1940.
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