Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was an original member of the 16th Battalion AIF and served at the Gallipoli landing. He was badly wounded a few days later, 28 April 1915, and was transferred to England by hospital ship with a gunshot wound to the knee. He rejoined his unit at Gallipoli during October 1915.

He transferred to the 12th Machine Gun Company during the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt during early 1916, and quickly promoted up to Sergeant.

At Pozieres on the afternoon of 14 August, 1916, the 12th Machine Gun Company was stationed south of the Bapaume Road, halfway between Pozieres and Martinpuich. One of the gun posts was blown up by a shell killing two of the men, including Sgt. McInerney, who had been recommended for gallantry the week before in the difficult conditions defending the Pozieres Ridge.

Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 3 October 1916,

A Bullfinch correspondent, writes: -Sergeant John McInerney, who was killed in action in France on August 14. was well-known in Yilgarn where he had lived from boyhood, and took a keen interest in all sport. He was employed as a motorman on the Bullfinch Proprietary prior to enlisting. He was one of the first to leave Bullfinch, and took part in the famous landing at Gallipoli. He was wounded once, but returned, and was in the evacuation. Deceased, who was a machine gunner, was killed by a high explosive shell. Another brother, James McInerney, went into camp on Monday. Much sympathy is felt for his mother and sister, who reside here.”

His brother, 7023 Pte. James Patrick McInerney 11th Battalion AIF, died of war wounds in Kalgoorlie on 20 November 1918, aged 33.