Adam Angus McConnachie (1878 - 1971)

Ancestors

Biography

Adam McConnachie was born in 1878, the son of Robert McConnachie and Mary Hay.

Adam either travelled with his younger brothers — Alexander, James, and George — to Australia, or followed later, as he married Alice Mary Wilson (also from Scotland) in Ayr, Queensland on the 23rd October 1912.^[1]

Adam and Alice had seven children: six daughters; Georgina Irene (born 1913, married 1938), Alice Mary (born 1916, married 1936), only son Robert Angus (born June 1919), Amy Jessie (born between 1918 and 1921 as she died in 1921), Myrtle May, Iris Isabel, Elizabeth Beryl (the last four also born after 1918).

Adam spent two years in the Gordon Volunteers and a further six years in the Gordon Highlanders, Imperial Army, before he left Scotland for Australia.
On the 25th March 1916, at the age of 38 yrs and 10 months, he signed up to the Australian Army (3/41st Battalion, SERN 2123), leaving behind his pregnant wife and their small daughter in the care of his younger brother, Alec and his wife. He designated four-fifths of his military pay to the support of his wife and children (crossing out the pre-printed two-fifths and three-fifths).
Distinguishing marks are listed as: tattoo of regular crest Gordon Highlanders, right arm; tattoo of swallow & heart & hands clasped on left arm, and a scar on the back of his right hand.

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Adam arrived in France on the 26th January 1917, having gone from embarkation Brisbane 7th September 1916, disembarking Plymouth 2nd November 1916, proceeding overseas France via Folkstone 20th December 1916.
In October of 1917, Adam was invalided to England via the General Hospital Boulogne, after being Wounded in Action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg on the 4th, and was admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital (Brighton) on the 13th of the month.
On the 5th April 1918 Adam was returned to Australia per "A. 30" Borda for Discharge due to the shrapnel wound to his leg.^[2]

Adam Angus McConnachie passed away in October of 1971, at the ripe old age of 93 years, having survived his wife by ten years.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ QLD BDM Marriage Registration details: 1912/C/3772
2. ↑ Military Service record per discoveringanzacs
3. ↑ QLD BDM Death Registration details: 1971/B/27944

• Family records and birth, marriage, death certificates.