Roderick MCAULAY

MCAULAY, Roderick

Service Numbers: 4270, 4270A
Enlisted: 6 September 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 54th Infantry Battalion
Born: Chatsworth Island, New South Wales, Australia, 1881
Home Town: Waverley, Waverley, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery: Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys
Sp. Mem. 8
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maclean Public School Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

6 Sep 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4270
20 Dec 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4270, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
20 Dec 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4270, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney
19 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4270A, 54th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4270A awm_unit: 54th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

His younger brother 4391 Pte Hector McAulay also of the 54th Battalion AIF, was also killed in action at Fromelles 19 July 1916. The two brothers were apparently in the Lewis Gun section of the 54th Battalion.

Roderick was posted missing, 19/20 July 1916, but shortly after was discovered to have been buried at Sailly-sur-la-Lys Cemetery by the Reverend Kennedy, RC chaplain of the 53rd Battalion on 21 July 1916.

Kennedy wrote of 'scenes of carnage'. He worked with the doctors in an aid-post and was astonished by the bravery and generosity of the wounded. For his part in the battle Kennedy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order 'for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried wounded men from the front trenches to the dressing station under very heavy shell-fire throughout the whole night, returning repeatedly to the firing-line'. He also assisted in dressing wounded men and, with Chaplain Maxted who was killed doing similar duties, was a conspicuous example of practical Christianity.

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