Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private John Francis McGrath (my great, great uncle) served in the 3rd Light Horse Brigade during the First World War and served his entire time in Egypt until the end of the war.   I have been unable to locate any personal communication and therefore this essay relies on his service record, unit diaries, newspapers articles and secondary sources to explore his role during the Great War.  I would say his experience as a soldier was fairly common, maybe even luckier than others as he returned.

John Francis McGrath was born 2 May 1895 to parents Patrick and Elizabeth, in south west Victoria district of Colac, into a farming family. He was the 5th of nine children, the youngest male with three older married brothers.  In May 1915 many men in Colac were out of work due to works ceasing at the railway yards, however this was not the case for John who was working as a farmer in Cobden.

1915

John was twenty years old and single when he enlisted on 31 May 1915.  The newspapers had just reported the tragic events of the ANZAC’s at Gallipoli.  The only life he knew was farming so an opportunity to travel the world may have seemed exciting.  News of his enlistment was reported in the local newspaper, “he said he felt it was his duty to fight for his country. If he had to die, he hoped to be well prepared for it”.

1916

He was assessed medically fit at a height of 5 feet 7¼ inches, with a chest of 35½ inches which was the required minimum measurements at that point in time.  1916 he was initially assigned to the Broadmeadows Training Camp, then to the Seymour Training Camp with the Light Horse prior to being assigned as a Private with the 3rd brigade, 8th regiment, 15th reinforcements on 28 January 1916. 25% of these recruits were farmers.

John’s unit were much-needed replenishments for the 3rd brigade after the huge loses at Gallipoli.  John with 103 others, departed 7 April 1916 for Egypt aboard HMAT Barunga.  In May he was training with 3rd Light Horse brigade, when they were issued with the now famous emu plumes for their hats. In late 1916 John with his unit was sent into action for the first time during the battle of El Arish.  His next engagement was at the battle of Maghdaba, the unit diary notes that the battle lasted six hours, after which they marched out towards MA Said. 

1917

The regiment were engaged in a small battle at Rafa, followed by two unsuccessful battles at Gaza.   In July, the 8th as reserves marched towards Beersheba, with many men suffering from septic sores, and by August the whole regiment were inoculated for T.A.B.  By early September they were at Port Said rest camp undergoing bayonet practice and mounted training.  Then on the last day of October they engage in the Battle of Beersheba.  The regiment continued on in a number of battles in various locations (Imara, Sheria, Arak el Menshiye, Mejdel, El Burj) nearby only to rest for a few days nearly a fortnight later.  Early December they were issued with new boots and pants.

1918

Whilst in action during the advance on Es Salt (30/4/918) John’s horse fell on the rocks and rolled on top of him, injuring his knee. A witness stated that he saw him fall and then limp away.  John was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Port Said on May 11 for this injury. By mid-June he was back with his regiment, but not for long, in August he was admitted to hospital with Malaria.   News of his sickness reached home via the local newspaper.  There were many evacuations of men sick with malarial and sand fly fever, greatly dimensioning the regiment.

1919

John returned home to Australia aboard the HT ‘Dunluce Castle’ on 26 August 1919 and was discharge from the AIF on 18 October 1919.  The fate of his unit was 200 casualties, 302 killed, and 675 wounded.  Reports in the newspapers;

 “Trooper J. McGrath and Private F. Welsh, two well-known Catholic young men of the Swan marsh district, were tendered a welcome home recently. A handsome gold medal, with his battalion colours on the face, was presented each soldier.”

He returned to farming in 1919, and later factory work.  John married a local girl Irene Elizabeth Pyle on 16 November 1919.  They went on to have five children and eventually moved to the city (Flemington) where he died on 13 March 1984 aged 88 from bronchopneumonia, his last occupation was an Engine Driver. 

John is recognised on the Colac War Memorial, and was awarded the British War Medal 1914, Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.   

I will remain forever grateful of these amazing men.