John Edward McAlpine (1886 - 1918)

Military Service

World War One

Name: John Edward McALPINE

Place of birth Creswick Victoria

Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 23 March 1915

Rank from Nominal Roll Lieutenant

Unit from Nominal Roll 21st Battalion

Fate Died of wounds 10 June 1918

Place of burial Etaples Military Cemetery (Plot XXVIII, Row N, Grave No. 9), France

Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial: 94^[3]

Service History

23 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, SN 1557, 21st Infantry Battalion

28 Jun 1915: Involvement Private, SN 1557, 21st Infantry Battalion

28 Jun 1915: Embarked Private, SN 1557, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Melbourne

7 Dec 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 21st Infantry Battalion

19 Jul 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 21st Infantry Battalion

2 Feb 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 21st Infantry Battalion

17 May 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 21st Infantry Battalion

Personal Details

Service Number: 1557

Enlisted: 23 March 1915

Last Rank: Lieutenant

Last Unit: 21st Infantry Battalion

Born: Creswick, Victoria, date not yet discovered

Home Town: Merino, Glenelg, Victoria

Occupation: Baker

Died: Died of wounds, France, 10 June 1918, age not yet discovered

Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery

Memorials: Casterton War Memorial ^[4]

Jack was wounded in action in France ^[5] and his wife was notified that he had died on 10 June 1918 at 1st British Red Cross Hospital in France The following was printed on page 3 of "The Casterton News and the Merino and Sandford Record" on Monday 17 Jun 1918.
Mrs J. McAlpine received word from the Defence Department, through the Rev. J. P. Schlussler, that her husband, Lieut. J. E. McAlpine, had died of wounds at the British Red Cross Hospital on June 10th.
Mr. McAlpine, who was in business at Merino as a baker, enlisted as a Private in the early stages of the war, and had seen much active service, he rapidly gained stripes, and served as Sergeant up to March last, when, after a course in the school of instruction, he passed the ex- amination and was gazetted a Lieutenant, but his untimely death has, unfortunately, deprived his country of his service, and his Company of a commander whom they all loved and esteemed. "They all loved Jack," could be well applied in the case of Lieut. McAlpine.
He was held in the highest esteem here. Prior to the war he was a prominent footballer and cricketer, and was a member of the A.N.A. and of St. George's Masonic Lodge.
He leaves a widow and family of young children, whose grief at his loss will be shared by all who were privileged to know him. ^[6]. ^[7]. John was buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Étaples, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France ^[8][9].

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: Victoria Australia Births: Birth Certificate: Event: Births Registration number: 16103/1886 Family name: MCALPINE Given name(s): John Edward Place of event: BROO, Australia Mother's name: Matilda BETTS Father's Name: Robert
2. ↑ Marriage: Victoria Australia Marriages: Marriage Certificate: Event: Marriages Registration number: 1579 / 1908 Family name: DAVIS Given name(s): Agnes May Spouse's family name: MCALPINE Spouse's given name(s): Jno Edwd
3. ↑ Military Service: Australian Infantry Forces: Australian Defence Forces Australia:
4. ↑ Virtual War Memorial: MCALPINE, John Edward: WW1 Soldiers' Memorial, Merino, Victoria, Australia
5. ↑ Wounded in Action: The Casterton News and the Merino and Sandford Record (Vic.: 1914 - 1918) Mon 3 Jun 1918 Page 3 Merino.: Lieutenant John McAlpine, from this town, has been officially reported as wounded.
6. ↑ Died of Wounds: The Casterton News and the Merino and Sandford Record (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Mon 17 Jun 1918 Page 3 Merino.:
7. ↑ Family Memorial: he Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957) Wed 19 Jun 1918 Page 1 Family Notices: DIED ON SERVICE: McALPINE. - Officially reported died of wounds, June 10 at 1st British Red Cross Hospital, Sec. Lieutenant John Edward McAlplne 21st Batt. A.I.F., after three years service, dearly loved husband of May and father of Grace, Bob and Keith, aged 30 years
   Parted: yes, but not forever,
   We shall meet you by-and-by,
   Where no partings e'er shall sever,
   Where no tear shall dim the eye.
8. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave: Lieutenant John McALPINE: BIRTH: 6 July 1886 DEATH: 10 Jun 1918 BURIAL: Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France PLOT: XXVIII. N. 9. Find A Grave: Memorial #30719325
9. ↑ In Memoriam: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957) View title info Tue 10 Jun 1919 Page 1 Family Notices: MCALPINE.-In loving memory of my deer husband, John Edward McAlpine, late lieut. 21st Batt, died of wounds on 10th June, 1918. Some day, some time, my eyes shall see, The dear face I hold in memory; Then God will link the broken chain Still closer when we meet again. -(Inserted by his loving wife and children, Hawthorn road, Caulfield.)

Research Notes

John Edward McAlpine's Parents

• Birth of Mother: Victoria Australia Births: Birth Certificate: Event: births Registration number: 2255/1855 Family name: BETTS Given name(s): Matilda Place of event: M'BORO, Australia Mother's name: Mary WARREN Father's Name: William Henry

• Death of Mother: Victoria Australia Deaths: Death Certificate: Event: Deaths Registration number: 10255/1934 Family name: DELAHUNTY Given name(s): Matilda Place of event: RICHMOND, Australia Mother's name: Mary Ivy WARREN Father's Name: BETTS William Henry

• Marriage of Parents: Victoria Australia Marriages: Marriage Certificate: Event: Marriages Registration number: 609/1873 Family name: BETTS Given name(s): Matilda Spouse's family name: MCALPINE Spouse's given name(s): Robert

• Marriage 2 of Mother: Victoria Australia Marriages: Marriage Certificate: Event: marriages Registration number: 4935/1910 Family name: DELAHUNTY Given name(s): Alfd Spouse's family name: MCALPINE Spouse's given name(s): Matda