Dugald Dalroy (Mac) MACPHERSON

MACPHERSON, Dugald Dalroy

Service Number: 1147
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 4th Infantry Battalion
Born: Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia, 4 July 1888
Home Town: Molong, Cabonne, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank Accountant
Died: Died of wounds, No. 17 British General Hospital, Alexandia, Egypt, 20 May 1915, aged 26 years
Cemetery: Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
M. 132.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Molong Armed Forces Personnel Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

22 Dec 1914: Involvement Sergeant, 1147, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: ''
22 Dec 1914: Embarked Sergeant, 1147, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne
25 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1147, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
1 May 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 1147, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Shrapnel wounds back and right leg
20 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1147, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli

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Biography contributed by Michael Silver

The first volunteer from Molong to fall at the front -  Dugald Dalroy MacPherson enlisted as a private soon after Australian volunteers were called for, and left Australia with the second contingent for Egypt. But before leaving he was promoted to the rank of Pay Sergeant, as the AWM photograph H06335 (which was taken in Melbourne) shows. He relinquished this position and accepted the lower rank of Corporal, to go to the front without delay. "Mac" was 27 years of age, and, though reserved in manner was "one of the best." His death was a noble one-honoris causa.

Major Baker, who has just returned from the front has referred to an incident mentioned in the papers in connection with the landing at Gallipoli relating to the late Corporal Macpherson, who was with the Molong branch of the A.B.C. Bank for four years. Major Baker writes:-"Two N.C.O.'s took a telephone wire out to me under heavy fire, one of them Corporal Macpherson. I shall never forget my feelings of admiration for the bravery of those two N.C.O.'s on that memorable night. How they got through with their instruments and wire, which had to be paid out all the way up the hill under heavy fire, was a mystery to me. Well might the parents of such brave men be proud of their sons."

As Corporal Macpherson was admitted into hospital on 1 May suffering from wounds, it is possible, from the above that he may have been wounded on the night of the landing, whilst engaged in the work referred to by Major Baker.

Corporal Dugald Dalroy MacPherson died from complications associated with shrapnel wounds to the back and right leg at No. 17 British General Hospital, Alexandia, Egypt on 20 May 1915 and was buried at Chatby Cemetery, Alexandria by Chaplain De Kay.

Reference: Molong Express and Western District Advertiser (NSW : 1887 - 1954)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101048819

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101050266

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