SAPPER ANDREW McWHINNEY
2428 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Andrew McWhinney stated in 1915 he was born in Corop, Victoria in 1886. His parents were James and Alice (nee Stevens) McWhinney.
This announcement appeared in The West Australian Saturday on March 24, 1906:
He was working in Queensland as a labourer in 1915.
At the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld on October 28, 1915 the unmarried twenty-nine year old applied to enlist for service abroad.
Passing the medical examination he was accepted for service and Attestation forms were completed. These state he was 169cms (5ft 6½ins) tall and weighed 70kgs (153lbs) with a chest expansion of 92-97cms (36-38½ins). Complexion was dark with blue eyes and brown hair and good eye vision. Distinctive marks were three vaccination scars and a mole on his left elbow. Faith was Church of England. His mother Mrs Alice McWhinney of 99 Ninth Avenue, Maylands, Western Australia was named next-of-kin.
He was sent for training at the Mining Corps’ camp at Casula, near Liverpool, NSW and assigned to the No. 1 Company with the regimental number 219 in the rank of Sapper.
When the Mining Corps departed Sydney, NSW on February 20, 1916 Sapper McWhinney did not embark with the Corps. He was re-Attested on March 13, 1916 at Rosebery Park, Sydney having taken the “Oath of Allegiance’ on February 16, 1916 and gave the following details. Place of birth was Rochester, Vic and his occupation was a miner aged 30 years and four months. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Alice McWhinney of Maylands, W.A. Probably due to months of training his height was 172cms (5ft 7½ins) and weight 73.9kgs (162lbs) with a chest expansion of 94-102cms (37-40ins). His complexion was now medium with light blue eyes and medium coloured hair and no marks were recorded. He was reassigned another regimental number 2428 with the 2nd Reinforcements to the No. 2 Company, Mining Corps on March 25, 1916.
The Reinforcements consisting of 3 Officers and 177 Other Ranks (180 members) embarked from Sydney, NSW on March 31, 1916 on the transport HMAT A16 Star of Victoria. The ship arrived at Colombo, Ceylon on April 4, 1916 and after refuelling departed the following day. The vessel docked at the Suez, Egypt on May 3, 1916 where the Reinforcements disembarked after 33 days at sea. The weather during the voyage was cold and rough. The Star of Victoria departed the next day for Port Said and spent the day in port May 5, 1916. Sapper McWhinney was taken from Port Suez to the 5th Government hospital, Suez with Pleuro-pneumonia on May 7, 1916 and transferred to hospital in Cairo on June 2, 1916 being admitted to the 3rd Aust. General Hospital in Abbassia with Pleuro-pneumonia. Three days later he was to convalesce at Ras-el-Tin in Alexandria. His mother was advised on June 16 that he had been hospitalised.
The 3rd A.I.F. Infantry Depot at Liverpool, NSW forwarded his Attestation papers to Base Records in Melbourne, Vic on May 5, 1916.
His name appeared in The West Australian on Monday July 3, 1916:
On July 29, 1916 he embarked from Alexandria on the transport Arcadian and marched into an unnamed camp in England. On August 13 the following was dealt with:
A.W.L. from 1.15 p.m. 8/8/16 to noon 9/8/16
Award:7 days detention and forfeits 2 days pay.
Total Forfeiture:9 days pay.
On August 23, 1916 he was transferred to the Pioneers Battalion No. 1 Camp but was retransferred to the Mining Corps two days later.
The Perth Branch of the Aust. Red Cross Society wrote to Base Records on September 20, 1916 inquiring on behalf of his mother who had not heard any news on her son since he was in the Convalescent Hospital at Ras-el-Tin. Base Records replied on October 10, 1916 no further reports had been received since 2/6/16 and since a considerable time had elapsed it was assumed he was with his unit.
From the Engineers’ Details Camp he proceeded overseas to France on October 15, 1916 and four days later marched in to the Aust. General Base Depot.
He was sent on October 25 to Segregation Camp at Etaples remaining until December 16, 1916 and was taken on strength in the field with the 1st Tunnelling Company on December 28, 1916 from the Reinforcements.
Service continued until March 5, 1917 when he was admitted to the 134th Field Ambulance suffering from Influenza remaining until transferred the 2nd Canadian Stationary hospital at Outreau with Influenza and Laryngitis on May 12, 1917
Conveyed from Boulogne to England on the hospital ship Cambria on March 15 he was admitted the next day to the Military Hospital at Frensham Hill with Laryngitis. On April 2 he went to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford remaining until April 10 when discharged on Furlough. Reported to No. 1 Command Depot on April 25, 1917 at Perham Downs then ordered from Camp Headquarters to report to the Overseas Training Brigade on May 16, 1917.
Proceeded to France on June 24, 1917 via Southampton and marched into the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles the next day and left to return to his Unit on June 29 rejoining on July 10, 1917. Blue chevrons were due then.
Leave was granted on March 2 and returned on March 17, 1918.
He went sick to the 9th Field Ambulance on July 1, 1918 and admitted N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) and transferred to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station N.Y.D. Pyrexia (Fever). On July 4 went to the 4th Army convalescent depot until July 15, 1918 then rejoined his unit.
When Armistice was declared he was with his unit and remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of the country by repairing roads and bridges.
He went on leave from France on January 11 and was to return on January 25, 1919 but was sent to the 1st Aust. Dermatological Hospital at Bulford suffering from a social disease on January 24, 1919. He went to Parkhouse on March 24, 1919 and was discharged after 56 days to the Convalescent Training Depot. On April 1, 1919 he marched out to the Overseas Training Depot at Deverill where arrangements had been made for his departure on April 20, 1919 aboard the H.T. Boonah but he failed to embark.
He had to wait until May 12, 1919 for his departure from England on board the H.T. Soudan. His mother was advised on June 10, 1919 of his impending return. He disembarked on June 21, 1919 at Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.)
Sapper McWhinney was discharged on August 5, 1919 in Perth, W.A. (5th M.D.).
On February 5, 1921 the Acting Commissioner for Lands and Survey Department in Port Moresby, Territory of Papua wrote to Base Records requesting information of the whereabouts of Andrew McWhinney who was formerly of that Territory and knew some details of his service with the Mining Corps. Base Records replied on February 24, 1921 listing his service and providing the only address in their records which was his mother’s address in Maylands, W.A.
Sapper 2428 Andrew McWhinney, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (9036) and the Victory Medal (8996) for serving his country.
In 1925 and until the early 1930’s he was a rabbit trapper at Yoting, W.A. The following was reported in the Western Argus on Tuesday July 21, 1931:
By 1943 he was a Sanitary Carter at Erlistoun, near Kalgoorlie, W.A. before moving to 1 Money Street, Perth to become an Armament Assistant later that year.
A Statement of his Service was sent to the Repatriation Department, Perth, W.A. on October 10, 1946.
In Electoral lists for 1949 until 1954 he was a farmer at Mandurah, W.A.
Andrew McWhinney died in Perth, W.A. in 1962 aged 77 years.
The following extract and photograph (below) appeared in the book Australia’s Fighting Sons of the Empire:
The above soldiers are the two sons of Alice and the late James McWhinney. Their mother resides at 9th Avenue Maylands.
PRIVATE STANLEY McWHINNEY
6305 – 16th Battalion
Stanley McWhinney was born at Rochester, Victoria about 1898 and son of the above parents. His military experience was with the 22nd Brigade and he returned all equipment to them on January 8, 1916.
He applied to enlist for service abroad in Perth, W.A. on January 10, 1916 passing the medical examination two days earlier. Because he was under twenty-one years of age his mother signed the consent form for him to enlist. Personal particulars taken show he was 163cms (5ft 4ins) tall with the chest measurement of 89cms (35ins). His application was accepted by the recruiting officer and Forms of Attestation were completed. Further information reveals the farm labourer weighed 54.5kgs (120lbs) and chest expansion was 84-89cms (33-35ins). Complexion was fair with brown eyes and had dark brown hair. Religious denomination was Presbyterian. Three vaccination scars on his right arm were classed as distinctive marks. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Alice McWhinney of 99 9th Avenue, Maylands, W.A. and was sworn in the same day.
Basic training began in No. 1 Area as a Private with the 44th Battalion on February 3, 1916 until June 3 when he was transferred to the 22nd Depot Battalion then allotted to the 20th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion.
On September 30, 1916 168 members of September, 1916 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies embarked from Melbourne, Vic on the troopship HMAT A23 Suffolk. The ship arrived at Fremantle on October 10 and the Reinforcements for the 16th Battalion boarded the ship which departed the same day. The South African port of Capetown was reached on October 30 and after an overnight stay left the following day. The vessel arrived at Dakar, West Africa on November 15, 1916 staying in the harbour until November 20, 1916. After 64 days at sea the voyage terminated at Plymouth, England on December 2, 1916.
The Reinforcements left Folkstone on January 16, 1917 and proceeded overseas to France on board the Princess Victoria and marched into the 4th Aust General Base Depot in Etaples the next day. Private McWhinney was assigned to the 16th Battalion on January 20 and was taken on strength in the field a day later.
On February 1, 1917 he went sick to the 12th Aust Field Ambulance and admitted with Parotitis (Mumps) and transferred to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station where he remained until January 20 and was discharged to duty. He rejoined his battalion on March 18, 1917.
The following was dealt with by the Commanding Officer on March 24, 1917:
Crime:Whilst on active service found in an Estaminet during prohibited hours
Time 2100 hours 21/3/17
Award:7 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
Total forfeiture:7 days pay £1.15.0 ($2.65)
On April 11, 1917 he was declared ‘Missing in Action’ from 9 Squadron, 16th Battalion.
Advice was sent on May 8, 1917 and nine days later a copy of service was made for War Pension and later an Application from the Y.M.C.A. in Perth, W.A. asked for his Death Certificate
A Report was received on August 29, 1917 saying he interned as a prisoner at Limburg A/Lahn Germany.
He is mentioned in The West Australian on Saturday September 15, 1917:
A.A.C. Pensions were advised with reference to Statement No. 89 but on October 23, 1917 official news that Private McWhinney had died while a Prisoner of War on August 16, 1917.
His memorial was published in The West Australian on August 16, 1918:
On November 23, 1917 A.A.C. Pensions were advised of the casualty in Statement No. 107.
He was reported to have been buried in the Parish Cemetery Sauchy Lestree in Grave no. 47 which was about 6 miles west, north-west of Cambrai in France. Later grave no. 8 was noted.
After finalisation of his Estate the following was noted in The West Australian on Friday August 30, 1918:
Personal effects were sent on the transport Toromeo on October 4, 1918 for delivery to his mother.
Private 6305 Stanley McWhinney, 16th Battalion was awarded the British War Medal (50342) and the Victory Medal (49702) for his supreme sacrifice.
The War Medal was forwarded to the Commandant 5th Military District on April 22, 1921 to present to his mother and the Victory Medal was sent to her on April 7, 1923.
Base Records advised Mrs McWhinney on January 14, 1920 that according to information extracted from German Military Records her son was buried in the Parish Cemetery, Sauchy Lestree. The Department could not vouch for its accuracy but it was thought it might be accepted as reliable and should information become available later she would be promptly advised.
Triplicate photos of his grave were sent on September 26, 1921 and the Memorial Scroll (329349) on December 2, 1921.
The Memorial Plaque (329349) was sent to his mother on September 7, 1922.
His photograph (above) and this extract paid tribute to him in the publication Australia’s Fighting Sons of the Empire:
His War Grave location is listed as south side of Sauchy Lestree cemetery, France in grave no, 8.
© Donna Baldey 2010-2011