Malcolm MCRAE

Badge Number: 4468, Sub Branch: Burnside
4468

MCRAE, Malcolm

Service Number: 956
Enlisted: 1 February 1916, Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 43rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Goodwood, South Australia, 20 November 1895
Home Town: Goodwood, Unley, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Natural causes, South Australia, 21 November 1981, aged 86 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
General AB, Path 17 Grave 292A.
Memorials: Adelaide State Library, Museum & Art Gallery of South Australia WW1 Roll of Honour, Goodwood Public School WW1 Roll of Honor, SA Caledonian Society Soldiers Memorial WW1 Honour Board, Unley Goodwood Presbyterian Church WW1 Roll of Honor, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

1 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 956, Keswick, South Australia
9 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 956, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1,

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''

9 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 956, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide
11 Nov 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 956, 43rd Infantry Battalion
14 Aug 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 956, 43rd Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Malcolm McRae's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Born:  20/11/1895, Goodwood, South Australia.
(SA Birth records 1842 - 1906 Book: 574 Page: 396 District: Ade.)

Father  James McRAE  and  Mother Sarah Cameron McRae  (nee McLellan)
Prior to enlisting Malcolm lived with his parents at 44 Hampton Street, Goodwood SA.

Siblings:
Sister:    Elizabeth McRae  (b. 23/3/1894 Goodwood - d. ____)
             (SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 540 Page: 285 District: Ade.)
Sister:    Elsie May McRae  (b. 1904 Goodwood - d. _____)
             (SA Birth Record 1842 - 1906 Book: 730 Page: 21 District: Ade.)

Previous service:
2 years - Senior Cadets - 75th Infantry
1.5 years - 78th Infantry
1.3 years - Engineers  (still serving on enlisting)

Described on enlisting as 20 years 3 months old; single; 5' 5 1/4" tall; 112 lbs;
fresh complexion; blue eyes; brown hair; Presbyterian.

24/1/1916     Completed medical - fit for service

1/2/1916       Enlisted at Keswick, with his work colleague and mate - Cyril Harry Hannaford

Cyril Harry Hannaford (b. 3/1/1897) He was first employed by the Public Library,
Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia as a library cadet on 29/7/1912.

At the time of his enlistment Hannaford was the Periodicals Room Superintendent.
He enlisted on 9/2/1916, aged 19 years, and embarked from the
HMAT Afric A19 on 9 June 1916, with his colleague from the Library Malcolm McRae.
Hannaford served as a Private in the 43rd Battalion, AIF.
He was wounded in action (gunshot wound, buttock) in France 3 July 1917.

4/2/1916       Malcolm was appointed to 'E' Company, 2nd Depot Battalion
                    Exhibition Camp

16/3/1916     Commanding Officer appointed Malcolm to
                    Head Quarters - 43rd Infantry Battalion
                    Morphettville Camp

9/6/1916       Embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide, on board HMAT Afric A19
                    as a Private with 11th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Battalion Head Quarters
20/7/1916     Disembarked into Marseilles, France

25/11/1916    Proceeded overseas to France, ex Southampton

The battalion arrived on the Western Front in late December.

The 43rd Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders.

5/3/1917        Detached to Signalling School, in the field
18/4/1917      rejoined battalion in the field

In June the battalion took part in the battle of Messines and in October the Third Battle of Ypres.

14/7/1917      Promoted to Lance Corporal - France

The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley.

30/1/1918      Detached to Corps School, in the field
22/3/1918       rejoined battalion in the field

30/3/1918      Wouned in Action - remained on duty - France

In April they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux.

1/5/1918        To be Temporary Corporal whilst Cpl Benson is evacuated

30/5/1918      To be Temporary Sergeant (Sgt Rarbbett wounded)

In July the battalion was part of General Monash's attack at Hamel.

23/7/1918      Promoted to Corporal - France

13/8/1918      Promoted to Sergeant - France, 43rd Battalion

In August and September the battalion helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line.
The 43rd joined the advance that followed the 2nd Division's victory at Mont St Quentin.

At 11am on 11 November 1918, the guns fell silent on the Western Front.
The November Armistice was followed by the Treaty of Versailles signed
on 28 June 1919.

28/12/1918     On leave to England   (to 11/1/1919)
18/1/1919       rejoined battalion, France

Through 1919 the men of the 43rd Battalion returned to Australia in drafts for demobilisation
and discharge.

2/4/1919        Marched out to Base - to Return to Australia
7/4/1919        Marched out to UK
8/4/1919        Marched into England, ex France

20/5/1919      Returned to Australia on board Nestor, ex Liverpool, England
29/6/1919       disembarked into Australia

14/8/1919      Discharged from service

Medals:
British War medal (13601) and Victory medal (13406)

Married            Elsa Julie McRae (nee _____  b. ___ - d. 1959  66 years old)
one child:         daughter Janet Alison McRae 
                                      married  Ronald George Appleyard
grandchildren:  Sam (Stuart), Scott and John Appleyard.

Last lived at 49 Seafield Avenue,  Kingswood, South Australia.

21/11/1981     Malcolm passed away  (86 years old)
buried in:        General AB, Path 17 Grave 292A
                      Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, South Australia

On behalf of my dear friend & grandson to Malcolm - Sam Appleyard.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  4/2/2015.  Lest we forget.

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