Walter McGrath

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 07/01/2016 - 13:41

First Name:

Walter

Last Name:

McGrath

Date of Birth:

Wednesday, February 3, 1892

Mother's Name:

Lucy McGrath nee Badans

Father's Name:

William McGrath

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, October 4, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

25th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, October 3, 1918

Place of Death:

Bellicourt, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Walter McGrath (Service No 6205) was born in Jamberoo, N.S.W. His family moved to Queensland and he was living at Pomona, Qld, working as a farmer when he enlisted at the age of 24.

Walter enlisted in Brisbane as a single man. He embarked from Brisbane on HMAT A74 Matathon with 17th Reinforcements, 25th Battalion on 27th October 1916.

The troops arrived in England on 9th January 1917, and on 24th January Walter was admitted to hospital with influenza. He recovered and after training in England and France joined D Company, 25th Battalion in France on 3rd July 1917.

Walter saw service on the Western Front but was admitted to hospital on 7th September 1917 with trench fever. He did not return to his unit until 9th January 1918, but was again admitted to hospital with a relapse of trench fever on 2nd March 1918, finally returning to his unit on 6th May 1918.

At about 7am on 3rd October 1918, Walter was taking part in fighing near Bellicourt, France, when he was killed instantly under shell-fire.

There is no known grave for Walter; he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux, France.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, MCGRATH W