Gilbert Lee McCully
Stephen LearmonthGilbert Lee McCully’s name appears on the Corryong State School No 1309 Roll of Honour for the 1914 – 1919 War. However, it doesn’t list him as having died in action, yet his service history clearly indicates that he was of the many Australians who died of their wounds during the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.
Gilbert was born in 1880 in Yackandandah, Victoria. He was the youngest of eight children of James and Elizabeth (née Carron) McCully. In 1910, Gilbert married Hannah Henderson Birthisel. Unfortunately, the marriage would be short, as Hannah passed away on the 12th of September 1911 in Melbourne. At the time, the couple were living at 140 Lennox St in West Richmond and Gilbert was an employee of the Victorian Railways. After Hannah’s death, Gilbert lived with his sister Jean for a period of time.
By 1914, Gilbert had moved to 26 Powlett St. in East Melbourne. On the 17th of August, only two weeks after war had been declared, he decided to enlist in the AIF. At the time he was 34 and working as a plumber, having originally been an apprentice with Thompson and Co. in Melbourne. He was given the service number 962 and became part of the 6th Battalion, which was one of the first battalions to be raised. Together with the 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions it formed the 2nd Brigade.
Prior to embarking for overseas service Gilbert, like the rest of the 6th Battalion, found himself on the wet and windy plains at Broadmeadows Camp, just outside of Melbourne, training to become soldiers of the 1st AIF.
Finally, on the 19th of October 1914, the 6th Battalion embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata. Gilbert’s service records become unclear at this point and the next known location we find Gilbert at is embarking from the SS Cawdon at Alexandria in Egypt on the 29th of July 1915.
Gilbert eventually found himself with the rest of A Company of the 6th Battalion in a bivouac at the junction of Monash Valley and Bridge Rd. The date was early August and the Anzacs were about to unleash their August Offensive at a number of locations.
The 7th of August saw the 6th Battalion heavily involved in fighting in the Lone Pine area. Whilst attacking the German Officer’s Trench Gilbert was wounded in action being shot in the groin. He was quickly taken back to Anzac Cove and eventually transferred to the Hospital Ship Caledonia. Once again he was transferred but this time to HT Ermine. Unfortunately, later on the day of the 7th of August, Gilbert succumbed to his wounds and died. Reverend Clarke buried him at sea the same day.
Both of Gilbert’s parents had passed away, strangely enough within 10 days of each other in October of 1909. The small, clinical telegram informing the family of Gilbert’s death would reach his only sister Mrs Jean Elizabeth Oldham in Northcote. Gilbert had nominated her as his next of kin as by 1915 only three of the original eight children were alive.
A small three line note appeared in the 2 September 1915 edition of the Corryong Courier;
“McCULLY.- On August 7th died of wounds at the Dardenelles Gilbert McCully of H Company 6th Battalion 2nd Brigade 1st A.I.F., youngest son of the late James McCully of Yackandandah junction, and Corryong, aged 34 years.”
Gilbert has no known grave. He is remembered at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, the Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, the Corryong State School Roll of Honour, and the Corryong War Memorial. For his service during the war he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
