McILWRAITH William John George

William John George McIlwraith was the first child of John Henry McIlwraith and Alice Martin. He was a young man of 19 years when he enlisted for the Great War on 03 October 1917 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His occupation was a bank clerk at the time. He stood 5 feet 10 ½ inches (179.1cm) tall and weighed 130 pounds (59kg). William had a dark complexion with brown eyes and dark hair. He had 2 distinctive scars below his right knee and 1 above. He also had a scar on the inside of his left leg. William noted his religion as Church of England. He was a single man and listed his father, who was living at Cooran, Queensland at the time, as his next of kin. William stated on his Attestation Paper he had 4 years with the Senior Cadets, Area 5B and 1 years with the Citizen Forces, 7th Infantry.

On 02 March 1918, Private William J. G. McIlwraith of 31 Battalion boarded the S.S. “Ormonde” at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to serve his King and country. He disembarked Suez, Egypt on 04 April 1918 and was transferred to Port Tewfik for embarkation overseas on 30 April. In mid-May 1918, William arrived at Southampton, England and marched in to 14 Tng. Bn. (Training Battalion) at Codford the same day. He proceeded overseas to France on 22 August 1918, and arrived at A.I.B.D. (Aust. Infantry Base Depot) at Havre the following day. A couple of days later, he marched out and joined his unit on 01 September 1918.

William was detached to Corps. School (Education) on 06 January 1919 and was transferred to Aust. Corps. Central School in mid-April. In May 1919, William was organised in readiness for a return to Australia. He left France and disembarked Southampton, England on 31 May 1919. A couple of days later, William marched in to 3 Grp. (Group) from 2 Grp. He boarded H.T. “Main” and embarked England on 23 July 1919 for his return home. William disembarked Australia on 15 October 1919 and was discharged from the A.I.F. (Aust. Imperial Force) on 08 November 1919.

On 05 April 1921, William married Olive Muriel MacKenzie at Brisbane. Olive was born on 28 April 1897 at Brisbane. She was the second child of Kenneth MacKenzie and Amelia Jane Chardon. William also served during WW2 from May 1942 to October 1945, as a Sergeant. Olive passed away on 24 May 1955 at the age of 58 years. She was cremated at the Mt. Thompson Memorial Gardens and her ashes placed in the columbarium.

• France
• France
• France
• Western Front

Cooran District Soldiers Poster - No 42 in Returned Soldiers;

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

Photo: Neg 52168 John Oxley Library, SLQ.