Skip to content Skip to footer
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

McPherson, Duncan (4565)

Place of Birth: Geelong, VIC

Age: 42 years 7 months

Enlistment Details: Friday, 23 July 1915 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 4565            view online service record

Address:
47 Heath Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
Mary Oswald Suffolk (daughter)
47 Heath Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Saturday, 16 December 1916
Ship: HMAT Ballarat A70
Port: Sydney, NSW
Unit: 13th Infantry Battalion – 14th Reinforcements

Fate:
KIA: Wednesday, 19 or Thursday, 20 July 1916
Place: France


Duncan McPherson c1900 when he served in the Victorian Navy during the Boxer Rebellion.. AWM P08234.001
Duncan McPherson c1915-16. AWM P08234.002

Son: Robert Duncan McPherson

Private, 54 Infantry, killed in action 19 July, 1916, France, aged 43, commemorated V.C. Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France.

Daughter: Mrs Mary SUFFOLK, brother William John McPHERSON. Born Geelong. One of the more remarkable stories – he was killed in July, 1916 and revealed to be 56 years of age, although he managed to pass for 42 when he enlisted a year earlier. Enlisted showing a daughter at 47 Heath Street as next of kin, but under the protocol established, his eldest son William in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne received his medals. The circular returned by his son revealed he had previously served with the Australian Naval Contingent sent to China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900-01, confirmed by Nominal Rolls as 150, embarking on SS Salamis, 30 July, 1900 and returning 25 April, 1901 – one of the images from the Australian War Memorial (above) shows him in naval uniform. Another son, 2739, Robert Duncan McPHERSON enlisted October, 1914, his father then shown at 159 Station Street.

Additional research by Brian Membrey

2 Comments

  • Brian Membrey
    Posted June 21, 2017 12.42 pm 0Likes

    McPHERSON – Killed in action 20th July, 1916 (previously reported missing), Private D. McPherson, dearly loved husband of the late Mary McPherson, loving father of William, Mrs. T. Tyler, Mrs. O. Suffolk, Robert (on active service), Mrs. A. Sykes and Mrs. V. Fletcher, late 159 Station street, Port Melbourne.

  • Brian Membrey
    Posted August 27, 2017 5.28 pm 0Likes

    “Informant states that on July 19th, 1916 at Fromelles, McPherson was killed, he was his great friend and he saw unclaimed letters for him at B. Coy., orderly room at Fleurs, the latter part of Oct. 16” (Informant:- L. Sullivan, 4603, 54th A.I.F. B Coy)

Leave a comment

PMHPS acknowledges the generous support of the City of Port Phillip.

 

The content of this site (images and text) must not be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of PMHPS or the copyright holder.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and work, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.