CORMACK, Allan
| Service Number: | 2885 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wick, Scotland, 4 August 1891 |
| Home Town: | Kogarah, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bibster, Wick, Scotland |
| Occupation: | Railway gatekeeper |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 March 1918, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2885, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2885, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 30 Mar 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 2885, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2885 awm_unit: 13 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-03-30 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Allan CORMACK (Service No. 2885), while on active service with the AIF, had the rare distinction of being awarded both the Military Medal (second only to the Victoria Cross) for bravery in the field and a Bar to the Military Medal.
His award of Military Medal was announced in Supplement No. 29854 to the London Gazette dated 8 December 1916, at which time he had the rank of Lance Corporal. The citation for this award, in the 4th Australian Division Recommendation File dated 3 September 1916 was:
‘During the Operations N.W. of Pozières, 29th to 31st August, L/Cpl. CORMACK acted as guide and runner, and was at all times conspicuous for his coolness and courage. During the attack on night 29th/30th at 11.15 p.m. he carried an important message a distance of 600 yards along the front line under an extremely heavy barrage.’
His award of a Bar to the Military Medal was announced in Third Supplement No. 30431 to the London Gazette dated 14 December 1917, by which time he had the rank of Sergeant. The citation for this award, in the 4th Australian Division Recommendation File dated 29 September 1917 was:
‘Is recommended for his display of bravery and resource as a Patrol Leader during operations near ZONNEBEKE. When the attack was launched on the morning of 26th September 1917, he led his patrol close up in the rear of the assaulting waves “mopped up” the position previously located and captured 15 of the enemy and 2 machine guns. The prompt action of this patrol greatly assisted the assaulting waves and undoubtedly saved many casualties. Sgt. Cormack was awarded the Military Medal for work at MOUQUET FARM in August 1916.’
Allan Cormack was born on 4 August 1891 at Wick in Scotland and went to school at Bilbster in Wick. His parents were David Cormack and Elizabeth Cormack (née Taylor) of Bilbster, Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It is not certain when he migrated from Scotland to Australia, but he left behind in Wick an illegitimate son, David Cormack, born on 12 February 1911, and the boy’s mother, Miss Jane Murphy.
On 26 May 1914, Allan joined the NSWGR&T as a general labourer in the Permanent Way Branch. However, he resigned from this position on 1 September 1914 and re joined two days later as a porter in the Newcastle District of the Railways Traffic Branch. On 22 October 1914 his position changed to that of Gatekeeper.
Allan joined the AIF on 18 July 1915 with the Rank of Private and was initially posted to the 6th Reinforcements to the 19th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his mother as his next of kin.
The 13th Battalion spent most of the latter part of 1917 in Belgium, and on 11 September 1917, Allan was appointed Sergeant. It was in Belgium on 26 September 1917 that his actions earned him the Bar to his Military Medal.
In March and April 1918, the 13th Battalion helped stop the German Spring Offensive. It was during this action, on 30 March 1918, that Allan received a severe wound to the head (brain exposed), and he died of his wounds the same day.
Submitted 6 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Allan Cormack was born on 4th August 1891 at Wick in Scotland and went to school at Bilbster in Wick. His parents were David Cormack and Elizabeth Cormack (née Taylor) of Bilbster, Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It is not certain when he migrated from Scotland to Australia, but he left behind in Wick an illegitimate son, David Cormack, born on 12th February 1911, and the boy’s mother, Miss Jane Murphy.
On 26th May 1914, Allan joined the NSW Government Tramways as a general labourer in the Permanent Way Branch. However, he resigned from this position on 1st September 1914. He re‑joined two days later as a porter in the Newcastle District of the Railways Traffic Branch. On 22nd October 1914 his position changed to that of Gatekeeper.
Allan joined the AIF on 18th July 1915 with the Rank of Private and was initially posted to the 6th Reinforcements and the 19th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his mother as his next of kin.
He embarked in Sydney aboard HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’ bound for Egypt on 2nd November 1915. After reaching Egypt he was transferred to the 4th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 14th February 1916. On 29th March 1916 he was transferred to the 13th Infantry Battalion.
He left Egypt for France on 1st June 1916. He arrived there a week later. The 13th Battalion’s first major action was at Pozières in August 1916. On 19th August 1916, Allan was appointed Lance Corporal. On the same day he was recommended for the Military Medal. On 3rd September 1916, he was promoted Temporary Corporal, and on 16th November 1916 this promotion was confirmed.
On 4th February 1917 he was wounded in action. He received gun shot wounds to the face and right leg. At this time the 13th Battalion was involved in an attack near Gueudecourt. Allan’s leg wound, while classified as slight, was bad enough to warrant evacuation to England where he was in hospital recovering from 8th February to 17th March 1917. He remained in England convalescing and receiving further training until 8th August 1917. Then he left England for France and re-joined the 13th Battalion on 27th August 1917.
The 13th Battalion spent most of the latter part of 1917 in Belgium. On 11th September 1917, Allan was appointed Sergeant. It was in Belgium on 26th September 1917 that his actions earned him the Bar to his Military Medal.
In March and April 1918, the 13th Battalion helped stop the German Spring Offensive. It was during this action, on 30th March 1918, that Allan received a severe wound to the head (brain exposed). He died of his wounds the same day.
Allan’s grave is in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Gezaincourt, Picardie, France. His place of association is listed as Kogarah, NSW.
After Allan’s death his parents (still residing in Bilbster, Wick) were both granted a pension of 10 shillings per fortnight, with effect from 5th June 1918. Allan’s illegitimate son, David Cormack, was also granted a pension. In his case it was 20 shillings per fortnight, with effect from 5th June 1918. It would expire on 12th February 1927. Custodian for his pension was Jane Murphy and they were living in West Banks, Wick. In 1922 Jane Murphy entered into a bond formally agreeing to take due care of any of Allan’s war medals and mementos allotted to her as custodian of David Cormack and undertook to produce them at any time on receipt of a demand in writing from a representative of the Commonwealth of Australia.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board