Military History

Enlisted with 1st Div. Signallers as Sapper and transferred to Broad Meadows, Victoria for further training
Embarked from Melbourne per ‘Karroo’ for Suez 20.10.1914.
Roll Rank Sapper.
Roll Unit 1st Division Engineers and Signallers.
McKinlay disembarked in Egypt. He joined the MEF in Alexandria and embarked for Gallipoli 5.4.1915. He was promoted to Driver at ANZAC 25.8.1914-15.9.1914. McKinlay reverted to the position of Sapper 16.9.1914. He was wounded in action with a Gun Shot Wound to his neck (slight) 2.5.1915. McKinlay was transported to the No 1 General Hospital at Heliopolis 2.5.1915.(His photo was published in West Australian Newspapers) and he was reported wounded 16.7.191). He was appointed L/Cpl 18.11.1915. McKinlay was evacuated to Egypt in December. The AIF underwent a period of re-organisation with a doubling of troops with the new recruits landing in Egypt. McKinlay was promoted to Corporal 9.3.1916 and transferred to 4th Div. Signallers 8.5.1916. He joined the BEF and embarked at Alexandria for France 26.5.1916. He disembarked at Marseille per ‘Kingsfaun Castle’ 3.5.1916. He was promoted to Sergeant 9.3.1917. The 4th Division assaulted the Hindenburg Line at the first Battle of Bullecourt in March 1917. (4th Div. Digger History) many of the Bdes. men were taken prisoner. McKinlay was awarded a Military Medal 22.10.1917. He was promoted to the 2nd Lieut. 6.11.1917, then Lieut. 16.2.1918. He was mentioned Dispatches 3.12.1918. McKinlay disembarked from France 9.1.1919 and marched in to Australian Army HQ in London.
Embarked Liverpool for Egypt per HMT ‘Czar’ 24.3.1919 and then transferred to MHS ‘Dongala’ at Alexandria for Australia 7.5.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Dongala’ 7.5.1919.
Discharged 14.7.1919.
Final Rank Lieutenant.
Medical Condition Invalid.
Awards and Medals Military Medal, Gallipoli Medal, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Mentioned in Dispatches.
Military Medal Recommendation 22.10.1917
Distinguished Conduct Medal Recommendation 4.10.1917
(London Gazette 17.12.1917)
‘During the night of the 25th/26th September 1917 at Westhoek Ridge, whilst there was a great deal of hostile shelling, Sgt. McKinlay went out on several occasions and repaired telephone lines that had been broken in many places by shells. He also established the Advance Bde. HQ and Runner Relays Posts, and assisted greatly in getting the traffic signals through quickly.
By his courage and untiring efforts to maintain communication under very trying circumstances, he set a fine example to the men of his section.
(AWM Honours and Awards)

Notes McKinlay spent 4 years 9 months with the Division of Signallers AIF. He was appointed CIN Command at the Training School in Guildford in 1940. He held the position of Major 1.7.1940. McKinlay was promoted to Rank of Honorary Colonel 22.3.1946. He attained 1939-43 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal.
Photo Western Mail  28.5.1915 p23
           Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph source AWM P00035.001
           Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove,Gallipol 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans. Photograph source AWM A05763
           Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H12360
           Westhoek Ridge 1917-  Signal Engineers prepare to lay lines. Photographer unknown, photograph source WM E00809
           Signal engineers laying cable on Westhoek Ridge during the Battle of Zonnebeke September 26th 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00798
          

Information Source
AWM P00035.001. Landing at Gallipoli on the morning of 25.4.1915. Photographer A. Joyner, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection Australian War Memorial
AWM A05763. Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove,Gallipol 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection Australian War Memorial
AWM H12360. Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection, Australian War Memorial
AWM WM E00809. Westhoek Ridge 1917-  Signal Engineers prepare to lay lines. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00798.  Signal Engineers laying cable on Westhoek Ridge during the Battle of Zonnebeke September 26th 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll James Lumsden McKinlay
AWM Honours and Awards- James Lumsden McKinlay
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B883 WX3379
West Australian Newspapers
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories.SLWA
4th Division http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww1/1aif/4div/4th_division.htm


51 North Road, West Guildford, WA.
 

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