MCGRATH, David Charles
| Service Number: | 10784 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 January 1916, Ballarat, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Divisional Train |
| Born: | Newtown, Vic., 10 November 1872 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Fiddian's Boys' College Creswick |
| Occupation: | Storekeeper |
| Died: | Ballarat, Vic., 31 July 1934, aged 61 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Ballarat (Old) General Cemetery J Avenue Border, Grave 1A |
| Memorials: | Ballarat "East End Boys" Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Staff Sergeant, 10784, 3rd Divisional Train, Ballarat, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jun 1916: | Involvement 10784, 3rd Divisional Train, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jun 1916: | Involvement 10784, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jun 1916: | Embarked 10784, 3rd Divisional Train, HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 3 Jun 1916: | Embarked 10784, HMAT Persic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Husband of Elizabeth J McGRATH, 1002 Mair Street, Ballarat, Vic.
Mr. D.C. McGrath, M.P., died at 12.55am , today after a long illness.
Mr. McGrath in 1904 was elected as member for Grenville in the Victorian Assembly, and in 1913 as Federal representative for Ballarat. Born at Newtown in 1872, he moved with his parents, general storekeepers, to Allendale, where he was educated, with the late Sir. A.J. Peacock, at Fiddian's Boys' College, in Creswick.
As a young man he was associated with movements for the betterment of miners conditions. This work he carried on when the family removed to Pitfield Plains in 1900, and he was a founder of the Holybush Social Democratic Club, which became an active political force of the day. After a keen studentship of the day. In 1904 he contested the Grenville seat, and remained in it until Mr. Alfred Deakin's retirement from the Ballarat Federal seat left the way open to enter the Federal sphere. He contested the seat as Labor candidate against Mr. H.V. McKay, and effected a surprise victory; but the 1914 majority was very convincing. It ws during his first year in the House of Representatives that he came into conflict with Speaker Johsnon, and, refusing to apologise, he was suspended for the remainder of the session.
In 1916 he joined the A.I.F. and rose to the rank of warrant-officer, and was stationed at Horseferry-road. He was re-elected member for Ballarat, in absentia, in 1917, and in April 1918, was invalided home medically unfit. The 1920 election was upset on irregularities, and Mr. McGrath won the ensuing election by a satisfactory majority. when the Scullin Government assumed power in 1929, he was chosen as Chairman of Committeees and Deputy Speaker. His part in the more recent poitical upheaval which saw the split in the Labor party and his adherence to Mr. Lyons in the breakaway from the Labor organisation is well remembered.
In his younger days he was a member of the South Ballarat Football Club, and was regarded as one of the finest rovers seen on the Ballarat ovals. He also achieved success as a cricketer, runner and cyclist. He leaves a widow and grown-up family.
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