Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Samuel John Thomas MCCORKELL

Personal

Born: 1893

Birthplace: Gisborne

Parents: Samuel McCorkell
Isabella McPherson

Died: 26 May, 1974

Place of death: Gisborne

Burial place: Gisborne Cemetery, Gisbourne, Victoria

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

38th Battalion

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 19

Enlistment date: 2 November, 1916 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 23 years

Address at enlistment: Gisborne

Religion: Presbyterian

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: S McCorkell, Melton Road, Gisborne

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Weight: 145 pounds
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Distinctive marks: Scar right thigh

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. A54 Runic.

Rank: Driver

Return Date: 27 May, 1919

Return Vessel: H.T. Rio Pardo.

Arrival at Australia: 18 July, 1919.At: Adelaide

Discharge Date: 4 September, 1919

War Service Summary

20/06/1916 - Embarked Melbourne
10/08/1916 - Disembarked Plymouth
18/11/1916 - AWL; 3 days Field punishment; 3 days pay; total forfeiture - 6 days pay.
22/11/1916 - Proceeded overseas to France
25/09/1917-13/10/1917 - On leave Paris from the field
29/12/1917 - Temporary promotion to Driver while on leave
19/05/1918 - Appointed Driver
30/07/1918-18/08/1918 - On leave
19/12/1918 - 19/02/1919 - At 3rd Veterinary Hospital attended course of instruction in horse husbanding & agriculture
05/05/1919 - AWL 5 days; forfeits 5 days pay
27/05/1919 - Embarked for Australia from Devonport
18/07/1919 - Disembarked at Adelaide
04/09/1919 - Discharged

14/12/1959 Requests benefits under the Repatriation Act

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:
1924 - Married Hazel Annie Short (1900-03/09/1974) died Leongatha; buried Gisborne

Place/s of residence:
25/10/1923 - Melton Road, Gisborne
Couangalt

Occupations:
Farm Labourer
Farmer

Date of death:
26/05/1974 - Gisborne

Place of burial:
Gisborne Cemetery

Other relevant information:
Father: Samuel McCorkell born in Melton in 1866 Reg # 23036. Died Couangalt 01/01/1945; Buried Gisborne cemetery
Mother: Isabella McPherson (1855-1929); Died Gisborne; Buried Gisborne cemetery
1891 - Parents married Reg # 5722

Their children:
Samuel John Thomas - 1893-26/05/1974 (Gisborne) Lived at Couangalt
William Robert - 1895-20/07/1974 (Bacchus Marsh) m. Ada Sabina Hunter 1899-03/01/1981 (Melton) Lived at Crighton, Toolern Vale
John McCorkell - 1897-08/02/1973 (Bacchus Marsh)

Additional Information

The Bacchus Marsh Express
12 February 1916 p 2

Another of our local boys has responded to his Country's Call. Sam McCorkell, jun., enlisted last week.


Melton Express
3 June 1916, P 2

Notes from a Toolern Vale correspondent:-
The latest recruit from here is Mr. Smith, the popular and energetic manager of Mr. Hoadley's "Gnotuk Park" estate. Mr. Smith is young married man, with four children. -- A wristlet watch has been forwarded to Mr. Sam McCorkell by the Melton committee. Mr. McCorkell was home on final leave some time ago.

Melton Express
7 September 1918, P 2

TOOLERN VALE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDRNT.)
Planting the Honor Avenue took place in the Toolern Park on Saturday last. The scheme adopted involved two concave semi-circles, facing the road, the converging points being 16ft. apart. Between these two points it is intended to erect the Honor Tablet, when the design has been approved; two specially selected shrubs were planted at this point, known as Thuja Doniana, a new and very handsome typo of evergreen. The rest of the trees are golden cupressus. The line of the semi-circles was arranged well in advance of the cupressus hedge (which was planted three years ago) and forms a background to the whole plantation. The blend of coloring from the golden-tinted trees against the dark green hedge will give a very fine effect in a few years time. The planting was carried, out under supervision and the trees well watered and thoroughly mulched to preserve the moisture on account of the lateness of the season for planting.
The list of those who enlisted from the North Riding contains 20 names and a corresponding number of trees were planted. Precedence was given in the order of planting to those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The list is as follows:-
R. J. Wynne, A. Cameron, H. Foster,, W. G. Hogg, A. G. Tedcastle, E. Cameron, N. Cameron, J. Clarke, J. S. Farrell, O. Jurd, A. Lachmund, S. J. T. McCorkell, R. J. MacPherson, A. P. Missen, G. A. G. Smith, G. Snowden, R. Gault, D. Cameron, J. H. Bartrop, R. Bartrop. …

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts
Family sources