BRYDEN, John Adam McGregor
| Service Number: | 361 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | "Dalbeattie", Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland , April 1883 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | railway engine turner-driver from Reay Street, Hamilton Park |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 23 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix Plot I, Row E, Grave No. 28 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Loco Employees Great War Honour Roll, Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 361, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 361, 30th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 361, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
John Adam McGregor BRYDEN, (Service Number 361) born in Glasgow in 1883, had emigrated and settled in Newcastle with his parents. His father William was an engine driver for the NSWGR when in 1890 he lost an arm in an accident: he then became head cleaner at the Hamilton locomotive depot, and John joined him there when he joined the NSWGR himself in 1899 as a cleaner (first step on the career path of an engineman). Promoted to fireman in 1907, his employee card shows that he was transferred to Walgett in 1908, and other records indicate that he was at Narrabri West in 1910. In 1911 he was employed as engine turner at the depot at Murrurundi, and in 1913 he returned in that capacity to Hamilton. In July 1915 he enlisted in the AIF at Liverpool.
Sent in November 1915 from Sydney via Egypt to the Western front, he landed in France in June 1916, and was killed in action just two months later, on 23 August, and buried at Rue David Military Cemetery, 3½ miles SSW of Armentières.
(NAA B2455-3134214)
Submitted 12 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
107 years ago today, on the 23rd August 1916, Private John Adam McGregor Bryden, referred to as Jack, 30th Battalion (Reg No-361), railway engine turner-driver from Reay Street, Hamilton Park, New South Wales, was Killed in Action in France, age 33.
Cause of death not stated.
No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.
Born at "Dalbeattie", Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland (possibly between 24.3.1883 to 23.4.1883) to William (died 14.7.1918, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 67) of 7 Blackall Street, Hamilton Park, New South Wales and Mary Bryden (died 10.11.1910, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 48) of Reay Street, Hamilton Park, New South Wales, Jack enlisted on the 23rd July 1915 at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana on the 9th November 1915.
Jack is resting at Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France. Plot I Row E Grave 28.
Place of Association – Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia.
Mr. Bryden’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Scotts Kirk (Hamilton), Hamilton Loco Employees Honour Roll, Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honor, NSW Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour 1914-1919. and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
I have placed poppies at the memorialised Bryden gravesite in remembrance of Jack’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country.
PRESBYTERIAN-1SW. 76.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.