Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

21/12/1914

Date of Discharge

02/03/1920

Place of Enlistment

Liverpool NSW

Gender

Male

Place of Birth

Bendigo, Victoria

Address (at enlistment)

Power House, Canberra ACT

Occupation

Labourer

Next of Kin

Robert McKissack (father), Tungamah, Victoria

Service Number

947

Final Rank

Sergeant

Final Unit

7 Light Horse Regiment AIF

McKissack lived at the Power House camp during 1914 and was secretary of the Power House Mess. He also played football for the Power House. He died at Yenda NSW in 1944 according to the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.

McKissack served on Gallipoli with the 7th Light Horse Regiment from 3 October 1915 until being evacuated before Christmas 1915. He was at the Battle of Romani in August 1916 before being hospitalised later that month. The 7th Light Horse belonged to the Desert Column which forced the Turks back through Sinai to Palestine during 1916. On 26 March 1917 they participated in the First Battle of Gaza and actually entered the city before being ordered to retreat. After Jerusalem was captured in December 1917 the Light Horse moved into the Jordan valley. McKissack was detached to Divisional Headquarters on relay duty during early 1918 before being admitted to hospital with debility in June. He rejoined his unit in October 1918 and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was then part of the 7th Light Horse contingent that accompanied Charles Bean to Gallipoli at the end of the war to search for artefacts and graves during December 1918. McKissack was promoted to Sergeant in March 1919 and returned to Australia where he was finally discharged in March 1920. He married Ethel Godfrey in Bega in 1921 and they later farmed in the Yenda district of the Riverina.

Description - height 5 feet 11 inches, weight 174 pounds, chest 36-39 inches, fair complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, scar on his right knee, Church of England.

WWI Nominal Roll http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/ww1
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
NAA RecordSearch - Series A202 (Recreation Hall for Power House)
NAA RecordSearch - Series A361 (Appointment of cooks at various messes - Federal Territory)
Queanbeyan Age - 7 April 1914, 5 May 1914, 9 June 1914, 16 June 1914
Argus (Melbourne) - 3 October 1945
NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages - http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm