Private Robert McGarry

Private Robert McGarry

11th Battalion 3rd Infantry Brigade "D" Company Australian Imperial Forces
Service No: 1453

741

3

4

3

41

Click here for a frameable A4 print

Personal details

Family Information

Son of the late George McGarry and Ann Stephenson (previously McGarry) of 7 Dixons Row, Calder St, Coatbridge. Robert left all his property and effects to his mother and in the event of her death to his brother Thomas at the same address. Thomas' son was named after his brother. Warrant Officer 11 (CSM) Robert McGarry (2759455) of the 1st Battalion Black Watch fell on the 27/06/1944 aged 24. His uncle Robert's effects contained a tin, photos, cards, diary, mirror and shaving brush. From the 1901 Census - Address - 33 Merrystone St, Coatbridge - Stepfather William Stephenson aged 52, mother Ann Stephenson aged 51, Thomas McGarry aged 24, Robert McGarry aged 20. Robert's Pension was awarded to his mother on the 31/10/1915, the 26/10/1916 and the 08/11/1917.

Born / Resided

Longford, Ireland / Collie, Western Australia

Died

Killed in Action on the 06/08/1915 at Gallipoli

Enlisted

Helena Vale, Western Australia 23/09/1914

Employed

Engine Driver previously at the Woodside Iron Works

Age

36 / DOB - 30/10/1878

Buried / Remembered

Shell Green Cemetery (II. H. 7), Turkey

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. Shell Green was captured, and passed, by the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion on the morning of 25 April, but it remained close to the Turkish line throughout the campaign and was subject to frequent shelling. The cemetery was used from May to December 1915, largely by the Australian Light Horse and the 9th and 11th Infantry Battalions. It was originally two cemeteries a short distance apart, but after the Armistice the two were combined and enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields. The cemetery now contains 409 First World War burials, 11 of them unidentified.

Additional Information

Robert emigrated to Australia in 1912. He embarked from Freemantle, Western Australia for the Dardanelles on board HMAT A50 Honus on the 22/02/1915. He was Killed in Action as the ANZAC forces tried to extend their Gallipoli beachhead. It was what the Anzacs called a 'please shoot me, stunt'. On the night of 31st July / 1st August 200 men of the 11th Battalion waited for a series of explosions from mines laid by the engineers to detonate near the Turkish Despair Works before charging over the dark void to engage in brutal hand to hand combat. In a tit for tat engagement of bombs and bayonets, blinded by dust and choked by incendiaries, weary and suffering from dysentery and food shortages, the men of the 11th Battalion finally secured the trench, soon christened Leane's Trench after the commander of the attack, Captain R L Leane, and were relieved at 1400hrs by the 12th Battalion. 24 hours later the 11th Battalion were back in the front line and on 6th August were again engaged in extremely heavy fighting when the Turks launched a counter attack. The 11th Battalion held on, suffering 154 casualties in the process. And there they remained in continual battle with a tenacious Turkish army until the 16th November 1915 when they disembarked for Mudros, never to return. Prior to emigrating Robert worked in the Woodside Iron Works and was a member of Rosehall Orange Lodge No 109. A huge thanks to Robert's great nephew Duncan Alexander-McGarry for information on his relatives and also to Duncan's friend Steve London who took the photos from Perth, Western Australia state War Memorial. See photos for Robert's Newspaper clippings x 2, Robert's Service Records x 28 including Attestation Papers, Medical History, Wills, Effects and Pension Records x 3, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Shell Green Cemetery, the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Cap Badge, CWGC Grave Registration x 2, Grave Concentration x 2, Headstone Report on Robert's nephew (also Robert) who fell on the 27/06/1944 aged 24 (Robert's name on the Coatbridge Memorial also in photos). Finally see photos for Perth, Western Australia state War Memorial x 4 and Robert's name mentioned on the 11th Battalion list of men who fell x 2. Robert's Grave inscription reads "OH FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND, THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL". His nephew Robert's reads "THY WILL BE DONE". The War Diaries of the 3rd Infantry Brigade can be viewed here - http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1347095 and here - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1347096

Photos

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Comments

Thanks for looking after the memory of these young men.
Duncan Alexander-McGarrry, Dunoon, 11/05/2021 7:57PM

Thank you for your kind words Anne. Very much appreciated as always
John McCann, Belfast, 17/04/2021 7:33AM

What and outstanding memorial to this young man. I am in total awe of you John. Your dedication is unending. The people of Coatbridge owe you a debt of gratitude.
Anne Richardson, Coatbridge, 16/04/2021 4:14PM

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