MCVINISH, Colin John
| Service Number: | 39313 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 December 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Headquarters Staff |
| Born: | Maryborough, Queensland, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Dec 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 39313 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 39313, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Darwin embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 30 Apr 1918: | Embarked Gunner, 39313, Field Artillery Brigades, SS Port Darwin, Sydney | |
| 28 Oct 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 39313, 12th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 15 Apr 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 39313, Headquarters Staff |
Help us honour Colin 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.
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:-
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.
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.
Service # 95 - BOER War
1899 - 1902
18mths as a Private in 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Previous service: 2yrs No.1 Field Artillery
Service # 39313 - WWI
Born Maryborough, Queensland
Lived with wife Mrs Lydia McVinish, 286 Alma Street, Rockhampton, QLD.
Two children
Worked as a Plumber.
Described on enlisting as 39yrs 3mths old; married; 5' 6.65" tall; 147 lbs;
dark complexion; grey eyes; brown hair; Church of England
3/12/1917 enlisted at Rockhampton, QLD
13/12/1917 appointed to No. 1 Depot Company
26/12/1917 -
1/1/1918 home leave, prior to embarking overseas
31/1/1918 Private in 9/41
1/2/1918 Private in Artillery
30/4/1918 embarked from Sydney, NSW onboard SS Port Darwin
as a Gunner in Field Artillery Brigade, 34th Reinforcements
16/7/1918 disembarked into Southampton, England
17/10/1918 proceeded overseas to France
27/10/1918 Gunner in Artillery Reserve Brigade
28/10/1918 Gunner in 12th Field Artillery Brigade
15/4/1919 taken on strength as a Gunner in Headquarters Australian Base Depot
12/7/1919 returned to Australia onboard City of Exeter, ex England
12/9/1919 discharged from service
Medals: British War medal (33264) and Victory medal (31157)
sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 10/6/2016. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.