MCGREGOR, George William
| Service Number: | 1872 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 19 March 1886 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 22 November 1953, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld Anzac Portion 8 |
| Memorials: | Mackay Old Town Hall Honour Roll, Walkerston Pioneer War Memorial Hall Honour Roll 1914-1918 |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1872, 41st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 1872, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boorara embarkation_ship_number: A42 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 1872, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boorara, Brisbane | |
| 19 Sep 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1872, 41st Infantry Battalion, 1st MD, medically discharged (wounding) |
Help us honour George William McGregor's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Australian Remembrance Army
Private George William McGregor (Service No.1872), an Australian World War One veteran, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with plaques in recognition of their service for Australia.
We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 23 September 2023, along with a further 300 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page
George William McGregor was born on 19 March 1886 in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of William Espie McGregor and Jeanie McGregor (née McLean).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Mackay, Queensland, on 1 April 1916, aged 27, stating his occupation as farm labourer and nominating his father as his next of kin. He embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT Boorara on 16 August 1916.
He disembarked in England in October 1916 and proceeded overseas to France in November, where he joined the 41st Battalion on the Western Front. His family at home faced uncertainty; his father died in January 1917 while George was on active service, and both his mother and sister later corresponded with military authorities regarding his welfare and next-of-kin status. A surviving personal letter written by George from France in June 1918 provides a rare and human insight into his experience, describing the difficult conditions at the front and his efforts to reassure family at home.
In August 1918, he was severely wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left arm that caused a compound fracture of the humerus. Following initial treatment in France, he was evacuated to England, where he remained hospitalised for several months. His wound ultimately proved too severe for further service, and he was invalided to Australia aboard the hospital transport Suevic, arriving in January 1919 while still undergoing treatment. McGregor remained on the strength of the Australian Imperial Force during a prolonged recovery before being formally discharged on 19 September 1920.
Private George William McGregor died on 22 November 1953, aged 67, and was buried in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane. He was unmarried with no known children. In 1954, his British War Medal was forwarded by the Public Curator in Brisbane to military authorities for disposal.
After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.
We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget
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