Edwin Plastow MCVINISH

MCVINISH, Edwin Plastow

Service Number: 2263
Enlisted: 2 April 1917
Last Rank: Second Class Air Mechanic
Last Unit: Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
Born: Bundaberg, Queensland, 28 June 1891
Home Town: Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Coppersmith
Died: Natural causes, Queensland, Australia, 2 November 1960, aged 69 years
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

2 Apr 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2263
30 Oct 1917: Involvement Second Class Air Mechanic, 2263, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
30 Oct 1917: Embarked Second Class Air Mechanic, 2263, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne
13 Jul 1919: Discharged Second Class Air Mechanic, 2263

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

Biography 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 (Jnr)
- 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.

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.


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:  3 years Moreton Regiment

Edwin was described on enlisting as 25yrs 9mths old; single; 5' 8" tall; 148 lbs;
dark complexion; grey eyes; dark brown hair; Presbyterian

2/4/1917       enlisted in Toowong, Queensland
                    place of enlisting, Brisbane, QLD

8/6/1917       appointed to 14th (August) reinforcements, Australian Flying Coprs, Laverton Camp

30/10/1917   embarked from Port of Melbourne, VIC, onboard HMAT A60 Aeneas
                    as a 2nd Air Mechanic with August 1917 Reinforcements, Australian Flying Corps

27/12/1917   disembarked at Devonport, England

27/12/1917   marched in to Adlefield Camp, for isolation

16/1/1918     sick to hospital, Wendouer

19/6/1918     marched out to Halton Camp East

1/11/1918     Private in Australian Flying Corps Depot
2/11/1918     Private in 6th Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps

13/12/1918   tonsilitis - admitted to AFC Hospital, Tetbury,
28/12/1918   discharged to 1st Wing AFC Tetbury, for duty

6/5/1919       returned to Australia onboard HT Kaiser-1-Hind, ex England
19/6/1919     disembarked into Australia

13/7/1919     discharged froms service

Medals:          British War medal (32025)

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  13/6/2016.   Lest we forget.

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