Please Note: Those service personnel without a Service Number means we have not been able to establish we have found the right person. If you can help us with more information, please contact us via our enquiry form and we will happily add the relevant information.

 

Mackay, Thomas 808

 

Service No:	808
Occupation:	Driver
Address:	Croydon
Date of Enlistment:	August 24, 1914
Age at Enlistment:	26 years and 5 months
Marital Status:	Single
Physical Description:	Thomas was 5′ 9″, weighing 10st 6lbs, with fair hair, blue eyes and light complexion.
Next of Kin:	Mrs Edith Maria Mackay, ‘Smo-ko’, Whitehorse Rd, Croydon – mother.
Rank on Enlistment:	Private
Unit Name:	8th Battalion/ANZAC Provost Corps
Embarkation Details:	at Melbourne on October 19, 1914 on the Benalla.

 

Places and dates of service:

1914 August 24 – 1916 June 2: 8th Battalion
1915 April 5:Gallipoli.
1915 August 28: wounded, returned to England.
1915 September 15: In England.
1916 March 25 – 1917 June 3: ANZAC Police.
1917 February 2 proceeded to France, 2nd Australian Division.
1917 July 27 Embarked on the Demostheses for Cape Town.
1917 August 27: Provost Corps, Cape Town.
1918 July 31 APC 3rd South African – in charge.
1918 October 8 Died at Cape Town from influenza & pneumonia.He was buried at Woltemade Cemetery, Cape Town, Grave 132A.

Service injuries:
1915 August 28 wounded – gunshot wound right thigh [later communications say left thigh].

Returned to Australia:	Not applicable
Discharge Date:	Not Applicable
Rank at Discharge:	Private at time of death
Honours/Medals:	1914/15 Star; British War medal; Victory Medal; Memorial Scroll [Note Plaque & scroll incorrectly say ‘Mackey’]
Memorials:	AWM Panel 185; Croydon War memorial – as “McKay, T. South Africa”; Lilydale War Memorial has a T. McKie; Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll.

 

Family Story:

Thomas was born in Ballarat in 1888 to Thomas and Edith Maria Mackay. His father was deceased by 1914. By 1919 mother, Edith, had moved from Whitehorse Rd to ‘St Ruvia’ Oxford Rd, Croydon. She died at Croydon in 1931, aged 72.

Letters to Edith after the death of her son, describe the military funeral he was given; the cemetery as being “a quiet and appropriate final resting place for an Australian soldier, being situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the Cape, and planted with gums & wattles.” [attached]

Red Cross also wrote to Edith. [attached]

A description of ANZAC Day at the cemetery describes the care taken of the graves by “a devoted band of Australian women” until the Imperial War Graves Commission assumed responsibility. [Page 1] [Page 2]

Mackie, James, 2335 [formerly 1384]

 

Service No:	2335 [formerly 1384]
Occupation:	Baker
Address:	Seville
Date of Enlistment:	November 21, 1914
Age at Enlistment:	19 years 11 months
Marital Status:	Single
Physical Description:	James was 5′ 7 ¼ “, weighing 10 st., with brown hair, brown eyes and fair complexion.
Next of Kin:	John Mackie, Seville – father
Rank on Enlistment:	Private
Unit Name:	6th Battalion
Embarkation Details:	Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivrayon February 2, 1915.

 

Places and dates of service:

1915 January 3 – 1915 May 2 6th Battalion, Gallipoli.
1915 May 3: Died of wounds.
1915 May 13: Reported missing.

Service injuries:
Gunshot wound left chest. Died of wounds. Wooden cross at Gaba Tepe landing place, Gallipoli; Later Beach Cemetery Plot 1, Row A, Grave 34.

Returned to Australia:	Not Applicable.
Discharge Date:	Not Applicable.
Rank at Discharge:	Not Applicable.
Honours/Medals:	1914/15 Star
Memorials:	Seville Honour Roll; Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll – as McKay, J.

 

Family Story:

James was born c1894 in Parish of Lady Banff, Fifeshire, Scotland, to John and Mary Mackie. His parents lived at Seville when he enlisted, but moved to 7 Mile Rd Trafalgar, where John was a baker, then by 1921 to Yarragon.

James was apprenticed as a baker to Mr Matriu at Fitzroy for a period of 12 months. As he was only 19, James’s father gave consent for his enlistment, saying that he “had great pleasure in granting him my permission to join the expeditionary force in the time of need like this.” After his death, Service Records still referred to James as No 1384 until April 17,1916 when he became No 2335.

Lilydale Express 4.6.1915, p5: Seville – Private J. Mackie, son of Mr J. Mackie of the store? was only 20 years of age, and was one of the first to enlist. He has been cut off in action, much to the sorrow of his parents and friends. There is only one bright spot, he died serving his King and country with honour. [Lilydale Express June 4, 1915, p5]

In July 1915 his father was still at Seville seeking answers as to his fate.

By 1920 John was not answering letters addressed to Trafalgar, which sought his choice of a cross for James’s grave stone etching. In January 1920 his mother writes asking for her Badge and Bar, after waiting so long, so that she can wear it to meet her other son who is returning on the Konigin Luise.

Mackin, F.,

Mackin, Herbert, 237

 

Service No:	237
Occupation:	Driver/farrier
Address:	Lilydale
Date of Enlistment:	October 9, 1914
Age at Enlistment:	9 years and 2 months
Marital Status:	Married
Physical Description:	At enlistment Herbert was 5′ 9 ½”, weighing 11 st 7 lbs, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and medium complexion.
Next of Kin:	Mrs Nellie Mackin, Lilydale – wife
Rank on Enlistment:	Corporal
Unit Name:	7th Mobile Veterinary Sect. ANZ Mounted Division.
Embarkation Details:	At Melbourne on December 22, 1914 on the Borda.

 

Places and dates of service:

1914 October 9 – 1916, December 20: No 2 Veterinary Regiment, Maadi.
1916 December 21: Taken on strength 4th A Camel Regiment.
1917 January 8, Farrier to Quartermaster Sergeant, Egypt.
1917 February 12: Posted to 4th ANZAC.
1918 June 22: 5th Brigade, Moascar – on reorganisation of Camel Corps.
1918 November 15: Returning to Australia.

Service Injuries: NIL

Returned to Australia:	December 24, 1918.
Discharge Date:	February 22, 1919.
Rank at Discharge:	Corporal
Honours/Medals:	1914/15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
Memorials:	Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll; Lilydale State School Honour Roll; St John’s Anglican Church, Lilydale, Honour Roll as H. Macken.

 

Family Story:

Born at Lilydale on July 7, 1886 to James and Sophia Frances Mackin nee Foxley. Sophia was born in Buckinghamshire and married Melbourne-born James in 1869. In 1907 Herbert married, at Olinda Vale (Mt Evelyn), Ellen “Nellie” Winstanley [details in Headstone Project].

When Herbert was discharged he intended living at 95 Stawell St, Richmond. Herbert died on July 31, 1968 and is buried at Lilydale Cemetery.

Maher, Francis William, Lieutenant MM

 

Service No:	Lieutenant
Occupation:	Wheelwright
Address:	Lilydale
Date of Enlistment:	July 31, 1915
Age at Enlistment:	19 years 10 months
Marital Status:	Single
Physical Description:	5ft 6 ½ inch, 11st 7lb, blue eyes, dk brown hair, fresh complexion
Next of Kin:	Father, Cornelius Maher
Rank on Enlistment:	Private
Unit Name:	2nd Machine Gun Coy.
Embarkation Details:	November 23, 1915 Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic A40

 

Places and dates of service:

1916 February 22: to Serapeum Egypt.
1916 March 29: to Alexandria Egypt.
1916 March 30: to Marsellies France.
1917 January 1: Promoted to Lance Corporal in field France.
1917 May 19: Awarded the Military Medal France –for conspicuous service rendered and bravery in the field.
1917 September 30: Promoted to Corporal in the field France.
1917 October 15: Promoted to Sergeant in the field France.
1918 February 8: joined Officer Cadet Unit in the field France.
1918 October 8: qualified for Commission in Infantry as No.2 Officer Cadet France.
1918 October 19: Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant France.
1918 Promoted to Lieutenant
1919 Returned to Australia

Returned to Australia:	July 12, 1919 Melbourne on Aeneas
Discharge Date:	September 3, 1919
Rank at Discharge:	Lieutenant
Honours/Medals:	Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal