Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Alfred McAllister always claimed that he was born on the 6th January 1855 in Adelaide, South Australia. Research however, shows this not to be entirely accurate.

James’ father, Charles McAllister, served as a Gunner in the British Army’s 1st Battalion Artillery, in India during the 1840 & 1850’s. James Alfred McAllister was actually born in Madras, India on the 7th January 1855. He was baptized on the 11th February in Cochin, the youngest in a family of six children. Within two years of James’ birth, his father died and his mother, Annabella remarried. She died a month after James’ thirteenth birthday.

The sea would be James’ life. Even after arriving in Australia and settling in Melbourne and then Monbulk, James was always employed in some capacity either on or around Melbourne Harbour and was a member of the Victorian Naval Reserve’s, Williamstown Division Naval Brigade. 

On Saturday 23rd July 1900, at the Williamstown barracks, Able Seaman James Alfred McAllister aged 45, was mobilised and sworn in. His brigade of two Officers and 44 Ratings, were part of the 206 strong Victorian Naval Contingent formed to join an international force raised to suppress the Boxer Uprising in China. Given service number 43, James was described as being 5’6½” with black hair, grey eyes and having a tattoo on his left arm.

Being a family man, arrangements were made for his wife Lilly, and their sons to move from the isolated Monbulk to Yarraville, where they stayed with family friends during his absence.

James spent a week on HMVS Cerberus until the arrival of the ‘Salamis’ on the 29th July. Storing ship was completed the same day and the SS Salamis sailed on the afternoon tide of Monday 30th July 1900. It is recorded that James served on both the Salamis as a Tube Gunner in the China Sea, as well as spending time at the British Embassy on the Chinese mainland.

The conflict was soon resolved and James returned to Australia aboard the SS Chingtu with the NSW and VIC contingents. He disembarked at Circular Quay, Sydney on Friday 3rd May 1901 and while the NSW contingent paraded back to Fort Macquarie, the Victorians were left to make their own way home. Catching the train from Redfern Station, the Victorian contingent arrived in Melbourne late on Saturday evening the 4th May 1901. There was no fanfare, just a delayed reunion with family and friends due to the train arriving at the wrong platform. The Victorians had one final parade before being discharged, and were inspected by the Duke of York who was visiting at the time. James received two months pay as gratuity, a considerable sum for the day (while on active service, James had been paid 7s6d a day, with 6s of this going to his family) and was awarded the China War Medal for his service.

James returned to Monbulk and his farm, however despite his best efforts the farm was still not a viable concern and he returned to ‘…the Melbourne Harbour Trust on the dredges, and became a captain.’

World War 1 saw the next generation volunteering. Five of James’ sons enlisted in the AIF. Charles (/explore/people/131704) and George (/explore/people/228943) joined in 1915, followed by James Jnr (/explore/people/279205) in 1917. Harold (/explore/people/305940) and Robert enlisted in 1918. All returned home to Australia however the affects of war impacted their families long after the ceasefires and discharges.

James eventually retired and lived out his days in Monbulk. While there is no headstone to mark his or Lilly’s grave, there is a more lasting memorial to their pioneering endeavours in the Monbulk district – McAllister Road.

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