MCALPINE, James Winter
| Service Number: | 3583 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1916, Warnambool, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Riddles Creek, Vic., 1897 |
| Home Town: | Camperdown, Corangamite, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bolinda State School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 26 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bolinda State School Honour Roll, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3583, 29th Infantry Battalion, Warnambool, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3583, 29th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3583, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne |
Help us honour James Winter McAlpine's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Peter Sneddon
James Winter McAlpine was born ca. 1896 in Riddells Creek to Jemima Winter and Robert McAlpine (married 1888). Jemima and Robert also had Jane Brown (b. 1889), Isabella Morrison (b. 1891), Alice Eva (b. 1893), and Robert Alex (b. 1903). James attended Bolinda School sometime between 1899 and 1913 along with his sister Alice Eva and Jean McAlpine (relation unknown).
Prior to enlisting in the armed forces in March 1916, he had been enrolled in the 20th Light Horse Senior Cadets 1896 quota. In November 1916, he embarked on the “SS Onward” for France. In May 1917, he received a gunshot wound to his right hand. Although the wound was self-inflicted, he was found not guilty of negligence and within a month was released from hospital. McAlpine was killed in action in France on 26/27 September 1917. According to an eye-witness, he was killed by a machine gun shot to the skull while assisting to carry a machine gun through Polygon Wood and died instantly. He was buried in Polygon Wood near where he fell.
At the time of his death he was in the 29th Batallion. James’ father received his medals as well as the Memorial Scroll, Plaque, and pamphlet.