MCVINISH, William Gerrie
| Service Number: | 1714 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | February 1895, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter & Turner |
| Died: | Toowong, Queensland, 10 October 1962, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Toowong State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1714 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement 1714, 301st Company Mechancial Transport, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked 1714, 301st Company Mechancial Transport, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 28 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1714, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
Help us honour William Gerrie McVinish's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
When two brothers, Colin John McVinish (Snr) and George McVinish, migrated to Australia from Scotland in the late 1800's, they had no idea they would be starting a chain of events that would lead to members of their family taking part in virtually every conflict involving Australian troops that followed.
The two brothers and their wives produced their fair share of offspring who between them and their progeny fought in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the war in Vietnam.
Colin John McVinish (Snr) and his wife Helen Gerrie McVinish produced 11 children.
Their eldest son, also Colin John, led the way by joining the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen contingent, fighting in the Transvaal, Cape Colony and Orange Free State before being invalided back to Australia in June 1902. He went on to join the 12th Army Brigade, Australian Field Artillery, in World War I, and fought in France.
Five of their sons (including Colin John) served in World War I. The others were:-
BROTHERS:-
39313 Gunner Colin John McVinish
- who served with 12th Field Artillery Brigade. Returned to Australian on 12 July 1919.
Private James Gerrie McVinish
- who was in the navy at the mine and submarine base on Swan Island, Victoria
5440 Private Alexander Ogilvie McVinish
- who served with the 26th Battalion in France and in Belgium where he became acting Sergeant
and was later wounded. Returned to Australia 18 December 1918.
2263 Air Mechanic Edwin Plastow McVinish
- who served with the Australian Flying Corps in England. Returned to Australia 6/5/1919.
Two of George's sons also served in World War I:-
COUSINS:-
Able Seaman George Bannatime McVinish
- joined the Queensland Navy before Federation in 1901, sailing on the gunboat Gayundah,
patrolling the Queensland coast and chasing pearl poachers off the northern coast of Australia
before being sent with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to New Guinea.
6363 Private John McVinish
- fought in France with the 25th Battalion. Returned to Australia 26/9/1917.
Previous service: Senior Cadet.
William Gerrie was described on enlisting as 19 yrs 7 mths old; single;
5' 4" tall; 130 lbs; light brown complexion; hazel eyes; light brown hair;
Presbyterian
30/9/1914 enlisted in Brisbane, QLD
17/12/1914 appointed to ADAP, Melbourne Camp
22/12/1914 embarked from Port Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic
as a Cleaner in 301st (Mechanical Transport), 8th Company, Army Service Corps (17th Divisional Ammunition Park)
23/6/1915 Promoted to Driver
12/7/1915 embarked onboard SS Saba, ex Avonmouth, England
15/7/1915 disembarked into Rouen, France
3/11/1915 sick to hospital
12/12/1915 discharged
15/12/1916 rejoined unit, ex Hospital, France
27/1/1916 transferred to 23rd A L Park
23/2/1917 attached to K Ammunition Sub Park, as MT Driver
8/6/1917 Driver admitted to 1st Auxillary Hospital, London, England (ear troubles)
27/2/1918 transferred as Private in Australian Flying Corps
13/12/1918 returned to Australia onboard D34 (for 1914 leave)
4/2/1919 disembarked at Port Hacking
June 1918 Wendover, England. William competed and WON the boxing middleweight
championship of the Australian Flying Corps Depots in England
28/4/1919 discharged from service
Medals: 1914/15 Star (3592), British War medal (2633) and Victory medal (2558)
Last lived at 29 Woodstock Road, Toowong, QLD.
10/10/1962 passed away 67 years of age
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 12/6/2016 Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.