MCVINISH, John
| Service Number: | 6363 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1916, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maryborough, Queensland, 25 November 1889 |
| Home Town: | Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, 5 September 1947, aged 57 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland |
| Memorials: | Corinda Sherwood Shire Roll of Honor, Toowong State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6363, 25th Infantry Battalion, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6363, 25th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 6363, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney | |
| 29 Dec 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6363, 25th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour John 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.
Two of George's sons also served in World War I:-
BROTHER:-
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.
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:-
COUSINS:-
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 May 1919.
1714 Air Mechanic William Gerrie McVinish
- who started in the army and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps early in 1918. Returned to Australia 13 December 1918.
Father, George McVinish (Snr), c/o Mrs C McVinish, Woodstack Street, Toowong, Queensland
Lived at c/o Foggitt Jones, Brisbane, Queensland
Described on enlisting as 27yrs 10mths old; single; 5' 3.5" tall; 122 lbs;
dark complexion; brown eyes; dark hair; Presbyterian
15/7/1916 enlisted
29/11/1916 appointed to 18/25th Battalion
23/12/1916 embarked from Sydney, NSW, onboard HMAT A64 Demosthenes
Private in 25th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement
3/2/1917 disembarked into Plymouth, England
14/6/1917 proceeded overseas to France
3/7/1917 taken on strength of 25th Battalion
13/7/1917 sick to hospital
27/7/1917 rejoined unit
8/8/1917 embarked on hospital ship HS Grantilly Castle for England
9/8/1917 admitted to Tooting Military Hospital, England - Tuberole of Lung (severe)
26/9/1917 returned to Australia onboard A30 Borda
29/12/1917 discharged from service
Medals: British War medal (26708) and Victory medal (25646)
5/9/1947 passed away
cremated: Plaque in Queensland Garden of Remembrance
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 10/6/2016. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.