Alexander McINTYRE

Year of Birth:  1880

Place of Birth:  Glasgow, Scotland

Date of Enlistment:  23 November 1915

Date and Place of Embarkation:  30 March 1916, Brisbane, Queensland

Ship:  HMAT Star of Victoria A16

Rank:  Private

Unit(s):  26th Australian Infantry Battalion – 9 to 12 Reinforcements

Regimental Number:  4591

Died:  18 July 1918

Private A McIntyre - photo courtesy Australian War Memorial

Alexander McIntyre was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1880. As a 3 year old he arrived in Townsville on the “Archer” in 1883 with his parents Donald McIntyre and Agnes Daly. Another 8 children were born to the couple – 7 boys and 1 girl. Angus in 1884, Donald 1885, Hugh 1888, Barbara Agnes 1890, Peter 1894, Duncan 1903, Norman James 1896 and Gilbert 1899. Alexander’s mother died in 1911.

His brother Peter, enlisted on 9 January 1915 and served at Gallipoli, Egypt and France. He returned to Australia on 4 May 1917 after being wounded.

On his enlistment in Cairns on 23 November 1915 at the age of 35 years 3 months, his occupation was a Labourer and next of kin his father, Donald McIntyre c/- A McIntyre McLeod St. Cairns. His height was 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighed 140 pounds with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was Presbyterian.

He embarked from Brisbane on 30 March 1916 on HMAT Star of Victoria and arrived at Etaples, France on 9 June 1916 after a stop over at Alexandria, Egypt. He was admitted to hospital several times with influenza and once with a gunshot wound to his leg. He spent time recuperating in England before returning to Havre, France then to rejoin his unit in Belgium on 22 November 1917.

Alexander McIntyre was killed in action on 18 July 1918 and is remembered at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

HMAT Star of Victoria - photo courtesy of Australian War Memorial
NAA B2455 - copy of will
Cairns Post 6 August 1918 p4

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