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Malcolm James McWatt

Name on Board MJ McWatt
Name on Service
Records
Malcolm James  McWatt
Enlistment Age 37
Occupation Engine Driver
Place of Birth Paisley, Scotland
Next of Kin Lillian McWatt
Address 200 Langridge St, Abbotsford, Vic
Marital Status M
Enlistment Date 2/10/1914
Service No. 1093
Enlistment Place Melbourne, Vic
Embarkation Place Melbourne
Embarkation Date 19/10/1914
Embarkation Ship HMAT Benalla A24
Unit on Embarkation 8th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Death 10/05/1915
Unit on Death 8th Australian Infantry Battalion
Rank on Death Private
Cause of Death Died of Wounds
Place of Wounding/
Death
88th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., Gallipoli
Cemetery or Memorial Helles Memorial, Cape Helles, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey
Additional Information Malcolm McWatt was the son of Robert James (late of Champion Rd, Williamstown) and Maria McWatt. He sailed on the First Convoy of 38 ships which departed from Albany, Western Australia on 1 November 1914. There are copies of Malcolm James McWatt's diary, a postcard and a letter at the Tasmanian Archives. The postcard is addressed 'To My Dear Son Leslie'.  He hopes that Leslie is good and going to school to learn his lessons so he can write to his father to let him know how 'Mother & Myrtle & Willie are getting on.'  He also asks Leslie to look after his Mother, brother and sister until he gets home. Private McWatt never returned home, he died of wounds received at Gallipoli 4 months after he wrote the postcard. Malcolm James McWatt's name is on the Soldiers' Colonnade at Glenora, Tasmania. His wife and children returned to Tasmania while he was overseas.  Daughters: Edith and Myrtle Alice Elizabeth; Son: Leslie Walter James
Additional References Argus, 21 June, 1915 Williamstown Chronicle, Saturday 5 June, 1915, p2 Archives Office of Tasmania, McWatt family The National Anzac Centre, Albany, Western Australia
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