McPherson, Duncan (4565)
Place of Birth: Geelong, VIC
Age: 42 years 7 months
Enlistment Details: Friday, 23 July 1915 – Melbourne, VIC
Service Number: 4565 view online service record
Address:
47 Heath Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Next of Kin:
Mary Oswald Suffolk (daughter)
47 Heath Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Embarkation Details:
Date: Saturday, 16 December 1916
Ship: HMAT Ballarat A70
Port: Sydney, NSW
Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion – 14th Reinforcements
Fate:
KIA: Wednesday, 19 or Thursday, 20 July 1916
Place: France
Private, 54 Infantry, killed in action 19 July, 1916, France, aged 43, commemorated V.C. Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France.
Daughter: Mrs Mary SUFFOLK, brother William John McPHERSON. Born Geelong. One of the more remarkable stories – he was killed in July, 1916 and revealed to be 56 years of age, although he managed to pass for 42 when he enlisted a year earlier. Enlisted showing a daughter at 47 Heath Street as next of kin, but under the protocol established, his eldest son William in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne received his medals. The circular returned by his son revealed he had previously served with the Australian Naval Contingent sent to China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900-01, confirmed by Nominal Rolls as 150, embarking on SS Salamis, 30 July, 1900 and returning 25 April, 1901 – one of the images from the Australian War Memorial (above) shows him in naval uniform. Another son, 2739, Robert Duncan McPHERSON enlisted October, 1914, his father then shown at 159 Station Street.
Additional research by Brian Membrey
2 Comments
Brian Membrey
McPHERSON – Killed in action 20th July, 1916 (previously reported missing), Private D. McPherson, dearly loved husband of the late Mary McPherson, loving father of William, Mrs. T. Tyler, Mrs. O. Suffolk, Robert (on active service), Mrs. A. Sykes and Mrs. V. Fletcher, late 159 Station street, Port Melbourne.
Brian Membrey
“Informant states that on July 19th, 1916 at Fromelles, McPherson was killed, he was his great friend and he saw unclaimed letters for him at B. Coy., orderly room at Fleurs, the latter part of Oct. 16” (Informant:- L. Sullivan, 4603, 54th A.I.F. B Coy)