| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Sari Bair Area, Hill 60 (Gallipoli) |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/02521 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Bronze, Wood |
| Maker |
Royal Arsenal Woolwich |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c 1922 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Framed next of kin plaque : Sergeant W McAllister, 14 Battalion, AIF
Description
Bronze next of kin plaque showing Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The name of the dead soldier, 'WILLIAM McALLISTER', is inscribed in raised letters within a raised rectangle. The initials 'ECP', for the plaque's designer Edward Carter Preston, appear above the lion's right forepaw. The plaque is contained within a circular wooden frame with a dark brown varnished finish. A spray of wild dog roses, in a lighter shade of brown, is painted at the top and bottom of the frame.
History / Summary
William McAllister, a 21 year old steel worker, enlisted in the AIF at Melbourne, Victoria, on 22 October 1914. He was assigned as a private to the 2nd reinforcements of 14 Battalion, with the service number 1394. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he had served for a year with the Gordon Highlanders before buying himself out, and immigrated to Australia in 1912 with at least two of his siblings.
McAllister was promoted to corporal on 31 November. He was promoted again and appointed a platoon sergeant in C Company, the day before he sailed from Melbourne. McAllister embarked on 2 February 1915 aboard HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray. Owing to a mix up with the service numbers he was later allocated a new service number, 1431, as his original service number was already being used by another man.
After training in Egypt, 14 Battalion landed at Gallipoli on the afternoon of 25 April 1915. Between May and August they were heavily involved in establishing and holding the ANZAC front line.
McAllister was killed on 8 August during an abortive attack by the 4th Brigade, of which 14 Battalion was a part. The attack was launched early in the morning from Kaiajik Dere, with the aim of taking Hill 60. He was last seen alive leading a party of bomb (grenade) throwers against the Turks. The fighting was confused, the battalion split up, and, as its war diary notes, 'it is impossible to say what happened'. By 7.30 am the Brigade had been ordered to retire. On this day 14 Battalion lost 36 killed and 93 wounded.
McAllister's body was not recovered for burial during the campaign, and his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial. This memorial plaque was sent to his parents James and Maggie McAllister in Glasgow on 16 March 1922.