Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

11/01/1915

Date of Discharge

28/10/1919

Place of Enlistment

Liverpool NSW

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Known as 'Harry'

Date of Birth

18/03/1888

Place of Birth

Kowen ACT

Address (at enlistment)

'Amungula' via Queanbeyan NSW (previously Kowen ACT)

School(s) Attended

Williamsdale School (1897-1898)

Occupation

Shearer

Next of Kin

Gilbert A. McInnes (father) of 'Amungula' via Queanbeyan NSW

Service Number

547

Final Rank

Squadron Sergeant Major

Final Unit

12 Light Horse Regiment AIF

World War 1 Memorial, corner of Lowe St and Farrer Place, Queanbeyan NSW
Queanbeyan RSL Wall of Remembrance, Crawford St, Queanbeyan NSW
Roll of Honor Queanbeyan Public School, Isabella Street, Queanbeyan NSW
Memorial plaque in St John's Church, Reid ACT
Roll of Honour at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Lowe Street, Queanbeyan NSW
Memorial Gates, Sutton Public School, Sutton

Mentioned in Despatches

Harry McInnes was born at Kowen in what is now the ACT in 1888. He was a nephew of Charles and George McInnes who also served in World War 1 as did his brother Jack and second cousins Edward and Arnold McInnes.

McInnes was a shearer when he enlisted in 1915 and he left Australia in June 1915, landing on Gallipoli in August and being taken on strength with the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal in February 1916 after the evacuation from Gallipoli and served in the Sinai and Palestine. McInnes was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment at Romani in 1917 and promoted to Sergeant. On 31 October 1917 the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments famously charged the Turks at Beersheba and secured the valuable water supplies there. In May 1918, after being Mentioned in Despatches, he rejoined the 12th Light Horse where he became Squadron Sergeant Major in May 1919. He returned to Australia in August 1919 and was discharged on 28 October. McInnes died on 8 December 1919 after he accidentally hit his head when he fell from a tram in Sydney while trying to catch a friend's hat. He was buried in Queanbeyan with an honour guard of returned servicemen.

Description - height 5 feet 6½ inches, weight 155 pounds, chest 34-37¾ inches, dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair, Presbyterian, scar over right eye.

Rex Cross, 'Bygone Queanbeyan', 1980
Marilyn Folger, 'McInnes Family of Gilbert and Mary', 1998
Our Queanbeyan 'Boys', Howard & Shearsby, Yass (postcard)
Queanbeyan Age - 16 April 1915, 16 November 1915, 25 January 1916, 11 August 1916, 19 August 1919, 9 December 1919, 12 December 1919
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
ACT Archives (AA1968/269.5) Williamsdale Register of Admissions and Class Roll