William MCGRATH MC

MCGRATH, William

Service Numbers: 268, V80058
Enlisted: 23 September 1914
Last Rank: Major
Last Unit: 12 Garrison Battalion (VIC)
Born: Taradale, Victoria, Australia, 12 February 1887
Home Town: South Melbourne, Port Phillip, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

23 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 268, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Melbourne, Vic.

Peacetime

23 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1

World War 1 Service

28 Oct 1914: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Melbourne, Vic.
25 Feb 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 268, 8th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: ''
25 Feb 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 268, 8th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne
22 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 268, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
24 Jun 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Gallipoli
7 Jul 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Gallipoli
7 Aug 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Squadron Sergeant Major, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Gallipoli
7 Aug 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Squadron Sergeant Major, 268, 8th Light Horse Regiment, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli
17 Mar 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Egypt
23 Dec 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Magdhaba
27 Mar 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Battles of Gaza
6 Jul 1917: Honoured Mention in Dispatches
31 Oct 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Beersheba
13 Nov 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Palestine
1 Jan 1918: Honoured Military Cross, For his actions during the operations around Jerusalem.
29 Sep 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Megiddo - Syria 1918
30 Apr 1919: Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Egypt
6 Oct 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Returned to Australia 3 July 1919

World War 2 Service

29 Sep 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, V80058
29 Sep 1939: Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Captain, 12 Garrison Battalion (VIC) , Enlistment/Embarkation WW2
29 Jul 1940: Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, 12 Garrison Battalion (VIC) , Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces

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Biography

Enlisted in World War One and embarked overseas with the 8th Light Horse Regiment as a Corporal. Was promoted throughout the war to the rank of Major and was awarded the Military Cross. 

Re-enlisted in World War Two. Was appointed as a Captain in the 12th Garrison Battalion and was medically discharged from the same uni in 1944 with the rank of Major and holding the position of Second in Command.  

 

Awarded:

Military Cross

1914/15 Star: 4287

British War Medal: 7681

Victory Medal: 7597 

War Medal - for WWII

Australian Service Medal - for WWII

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