MCKINNON, George Dudley
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1916, C Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redground, Laggan, New South Wales, Australia, 16 October 1890 |
| Home Town: | Tweed Heads, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Broncho pneumonia and measles, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 10 March 1916, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Armidale General Cemetery Roman Catholic, Section 11A, Plot 19. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 33rd Infantry Battalion, C Company |
|---|
Help us honour George Dudley McKinnon's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Brian Harvey
7 January 1916 - Joined AIF. 11 February 1916 - AIF 33rd Battalion, C Company Camp, Armidale. Died at 8.15am at the Armidale AIF Camp Field Hospital from Bronchial Pneumonia after complications from Measles.
Worked as a Blacksmith, Farm Labouer, Rabbitting, Trucking Wool, Railway Porter.
Never married.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
George Dudley McKINNON, who had so brief a career in the AIF that he was never given a service number, was born on 10th October 1890 at Crookwell. He first worked for the NSW Government Railways as a temporary porter in the Murrurundi District from 28th April 1914. His position quickly became permanent and in January 1916 was refined to be ‘Transhipment Porter’.
On 8th January 1916 he enlisted in the AIF at Moree. He nominated his father who was a teacher at the Public School at Lue, as his next of kin. McKinnon was at first sent to the Armidale AIF Camp, where he contracted measles.
He died there from complications (broncho-pneumonia) on 10th March 1916, two months after enlisting. He was buried in the Armidale Cemetery the next day.
There followed a contest between McKinnon’s parents, George Napier McKinnon and Teresa Mary McCormack, mostly based on religious adherence within the obviously fractured family. Teresa and the son were Roman Catholic and the father Presbyterian. Teresa wrote:
‘The papers etc. sent by your dept. to G.N. McKinnon, Public School Fingal Point, Tweed Heads, were forwarded on to me as my son’s father had turned him (my son) out some years before my boy enlisted, did not recognise him. My son would not wish anything re him being sent to his father, therefore, I wish all communication sent to me. I had the full expense re kerbing my boy’s grave and am thinking of putting a headstone up this year. At the present time the Soldiers’ Wreath put on by his Battalion marks his grave in the RC portion of the cemetery. His father’s bigotry will not allow him to even spend money on his boy’s grave as he is a bitter Presbyterian and my boy lived and died an RC. My husband has to maintain me £1 a week & I also work therefore I wish anything re my boy sent to me. There was money sent to his father in his purse and belt and he also got the difference between Railway & Military pay when he died. Hoping this will assist you.
I remain yours faithfully,
(Mrs) T McKinnon.’
George Dudley McKinnon had chosen to nominate his father as next of kin, despite Teresa’s views. George Napier McKinnon in due course received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll. Since he had not served in an active theatre of war the young soldier was not eligible for the British War Medal or the Victory Medal.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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