Scots in the Australian Imperial Force
Stories about Scots in the Australian Imperial Force remembered in Toowong Cemetery
Use the Toowong Cemetery map to help you visit the graves in this story.
Alexander William MacDonald (10‑80‑18)
Service number: 4484. Australian Imperial Force
He was born in Turriff in Aberdeenshire ca. 1876 to Alexander MacDonald and ____ Duncan. He served 3½ years in the 92nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in the 1st Boer War. He served a further 2½ years in the Kings regiment in the 2nd Boer War. His service papers show he was a labourer on joining up on 26 January 1916 in Townsville. His address was the Mourilyan Harbour Line Innisfail so probably was working on the railways. He was 40½ years old when he joined up in the 11th reinforcements for the 26th Battalion. Next of Kin was Annie Ray MacDonald his wife. He is described as being 5' 4½ inches 9 st 13 lbs, 39 inches in the chest, dark complexion. Hazel eyes and brown hair and a Presbyterian. He embarked 30 March 1916 on HMAT The Star of Victoria and returned to Australia 19 October 1917 on HMAT Port Lyttelton. Alexander died on 13 July 1941.
Star of Victoria (ship) - State Library of Queensland.
Port Lyttelton (ship) - State Library of Queensland.
Walter Tarte (10‑75‑58)
Service number: 5481. Australian Imperial Force
He was born in Edinburgh October 1893 to Walter Henry Tarte and Helen Mary Crewe. His grandparents were Reuben Tarte and Katherine Blakeway. His service papers show he was a farmer and joined up 28 September 1915 and was in the 17th reinforcements for the 9th Battalion. Next of Kin was his mother Helen Tarte and he lived with her at River Road New Farm. He was 22 years and 11 months and 5' 7¼", 9st 7lbs and a chest of 35". He had fair complexion grey eyes and dark hair and was a RC. He embarked on 20 January 1916 in HMAT Hawkes Bay. He returned to Australia 6 September 1919 on the Euripedes. He married Doris Lillie Metzger in 1933. The Ernest mentioned here is Doris' son from a previous marriage. Walter died on 23 April 1940.
Alexander Robert Morrison (10‑76‑16)
Service number: 3680. Australian Imperial Force
He was born in Aberdeen 9th July 1885 to Alexander Robert Morrison and Margaret Gordon. His service papers show he was a carter and joined up 2 June 1917, intended to be with the 10th reinforcements for the 47th Battalion and the War Office decided the 25th could do with him and finally they gave him to the 9th Battalion. Next of Kin was his wife of 9 years Emily Elizabeth Morrison nee Lake Merivale St. South Brisbane.
He was 31 years and 10 months old and stood 5' and 7½". Weight was 125lbs, chest 32" with medium complexion blue eyes and brown hair and Church of England. No children are recorded up to the end of 1914. He embarked on HMAT Miltiades on 2 August 1917 and returned 25 January 1919 on the Ceramic. SS Ceramic was an 18,400-ton ocean-liner of the White Star Line launched in 1913, and later sold to the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. In 1942 German submarine U-515 sunk the Ceramic, leaving only one survivor from the 656 on board.
Alexander died on 2 May 1939.
Ceramic (ship) - State Library of Queensland.
Duncan McDougall (10‑76‑48)
Service number: 936. Australian Imperial Force
He was born in Renfrewshire possibly 15 July 1878 to Donald and Ann McDougall. His service papers show him as a motorman which research suggests to be a tram driver and joined up on 19th of December 1915. He was earmarked for the 41st Battalion and was 34 years and 3 months old, 5' 8½" 133lbs and a chest of 35½" dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, 2 vaccination scars on left arm and mole on back and requires dental treatment and was a Presbyterian.
He had previously served 2 years in the Queensland Imperial Bushmen Mounted infantry in the Boer War service number 186. He embarked on the Demosthenes on 18 May 1916 and returned on the Balmoral Castle on 1 February 1918, discharged 6 May 1918 medically unfit. Duncan died on 18 May 1939.