Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Private Ross McHutchison, 1916.  Photo courtesy of Stephen Hawke.

 

McHutchison R    Pte    3886    Ross               21 Inf Bn    18    Clerk    Single    Pres        

Address:    Ascot Vale, The Parade, 64    

Next of Kin:    McHutchison, James, father, 64 The Parade, Ascot Vale    

Enlisted:    30 Jul 1915        

Embarked:     A69 Warilda 8 Feb 1916  

 

Relatives on Active Service:

McHutchison-D-Pte-5856  brother KIA

 

Date of Death: 26/08/1916

CWGC:  "Son of James and Agnes Comb McHutchison, of Bagley St., Brighton, Victoria. Born at Ascot Vale, Victoria".

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL

 

"I've enclosed [a photo] that may be of interest as Private McHutchison was from Ascot Vale.  His photo was included in my great grandmother's collection of photos and postcards and after a bit of research to identify who he was, I came up with the details below.  Appears he was a workmate of my grand uncle, Reg Hawke.   Private Ross McHutchison – Ross enlisted in Melbourne on 12 July 1915.  This photo was taken a month prior to his embarkation from Melbourne (on HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916) for Alexandria (arrived 21 March 1916) and then to Marseilles (arrived 27 March 1916).  He joined the 21st Battalion in France on 4 August 1916 and was killed in action only 3 weeks later, on 26 August 1916.  Ross’ name is recorded on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. (Details from the National Archives WWI records and from the Australian War Memorial).  Based on C E W Bean’s Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, Ross would have been killed in the battle for Mouquet Farm on the Somme.   On 26 August 1916 the 21st Battalion lost 13 officers and 444 men (chapter 23, The Last Attacks on the Farm, of Volume 3 – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916). Ross was recorded on his enlistment form as a clerk, age 18 (born 1897 per Vic BDM), living at Ascot Vale.  He was presumably a workmate of Reg Hawke’s, from the insurance business".                                                                                              - Stephen Hawke

 

 

Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence

https://oldsite.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1051836--1-.pdf

 

War Service Commemorated

Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church* (McHutcheson)

Essendon State School

Scotch College

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Missing

Regimental Register

 

In Memoriam

 

McHUTCHISON.-Killed in action, Moquet Farm,
on 26th August, 1916, Ross, aged 19 years, dearly
loved younger son of James and Agnes McHut-
chison, Ascotvale, brother of Mary (Mrs. Noel
Jameson, Florence, and Duncan ( A.I.F., France).
Their fragrant lives they shed, those shining boys
of ours.
'Mid hail of German shells, and France's wreath
of flowers:
Eyes fronting duty's path, by sacrifice they've won,

And reached unto the Christ, and sounds of His

"Well done."

McHUTCHISON.-On the 26th August, 1916, killed
in action, in France (previously reported as
missing), Private Ross McHutchison, A Company,
21st Battalion, 5th Brigade, dearly loved younger
son of James and Agnes McHutchison, of 64 The
Parade, Ascotvale, aged 19 years.

Family Notices (1917, August 6). The Argus

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1640917

 

McHUTCHISON.-In affectionate remembrance of

Ross, aged 19 years, late of the 21st Battalion,

A.I.F., dearly loved son of James and Agnes

McHutchison, Ascotvale, who gave his life in the

service of King and country on the 26th    

August, 1916, at Mouquet Farm, France.

1917, August 27, The Argus

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1645329

 

McHUTCHISON -In loving remembrance of our

dear son Ross, who was Killed in action at

Mouquet Farm, France, on August 26, 1916

Deo patriae.

1918, August 26. The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1413588

 

McHUTCHISON - In affectionate remembrance of

Ross, 21st Battalion, killed in action at Mouquet

Farm, August 26, 1916, also Duncan, 23rd Bat

talion, killed in action at Millencourt, near  

Albert, 23rd April, 1918, dearly loved sons of

James and Agnes McHutchison, Bagley street,

Brighton Beach.

1919, August 26). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4700653

 

McHUTCHISON In affectionate memory of Ross,    

21st Battalion who fell at Mouquet Farm on

August 26 1916; and Duncan, 23rd Battalion,

who was killed at Millencourt, 23rd April, 1918;

loved sons of J. and A. McHutchison, Brighton

Beach.

 

McHUTCHISON--In affectionate remembrance of  

our nephew and cousin, Ross, who was killed in

action in France, on 26th August, 1916: also of

his elder brother, Duncan, killed in action,

in France on 23rd April, 1918.

1920, August 26. The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4587773

 

McHUTCHISON. -To the dear memory of Ross and

Duncan, both of the 6th Infantry Brigade, who were

killed in action, the former at Mouquet Farm, 26th

August, 1916, and the latter at Millencourt, 23rd

April, 1918.

Oh, memory! fond memory!    

-(Inserted by parents and sisters, Brighton Beach.)

 

McHUTCHISON. -In loving memory of dear Ross

and Duncan, France, August 26 1916, and April 22 1918.

For our beloved Empire.

 

McHUTCHINSON. -In affectionate remembrance of

our nephew and cousin, Ross, who was killed in France,

26th August, 1916, also of his only brother, Duncan,

killed in France, 23rd April,   1918. ( Abbotsford, 25/8/21 ) 

1921, August 26). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4667020

 

McCUTHESON -A token of remembrance to
Duncan and Ross; and Noel Robertson, Jock Hodge,
Will Wotherspoon, Allan Evans, Charles Levens,
Allan Bradley, from a mate.  

-(C.V.B., Ascotvale)
Family Notices. (1923, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1892688

 

A small tribute to the honour of Duncan and
Ross McCutcheon, Will Wotherspoon, Noel
Robertson, Jack Hodge, Chas Levens, Allan  
Bradley, Alex McArthur, Allan Evans, Dr. J.
Fairley. (From a Bible class-mate C.V.B., 
Ascotvale.) 
Family Notices. (1924, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1915169