Alexander John McKee World War I diary, postcards and photographs, 1916-1919

fonds

1916-1919

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

1102895

0.03 metres of textual material (1 folder)

Alexander John McKee (no. 26387), a mechanical draughtsman, was born in Orange, N.S.W., 23 Sept. 1882. After school he was apprenticed to a plumber and then later studied draughting and was employed by CSR Company as a draughtsman in Fiji. He travelled to the United States working on construction sites and studied Law at Stanford University. When War was declared he came back to Australia and enlisted in Marrickville, 13 June 1916 at the age of 33 and embarked from Sydney on the 14 September 1916 on the HMAT Mashobra A47. He served in France as a Signalman and then later as a Gunner in the Australian Field Artillery (4/5th), Divisional Ammunition Column. He was wounded in action in France, 13 Sept. 1917 and again on 23 Apr. 1918. He returned to Australia on the Raranga, 29 Oct. 1919.
After the war he stayed in London and studied civil engineering at the London Polytech later returning to Australia and marrying Gweneth Madden with whom he had two children Lesly and Ian. He continued his studies in civil engineering with the Institution of Engineers, Australia and qualified as an associate of the Institution. He then worked as a District Engineer with the Department of Main Roads, New South Wales. He retired in 1947 and died shortly after at the age of 65.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection
National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1948861 (accessed 27/2/2014)

ITEM 01
Alexander John McKee diary and Army Book 136, 14 September 1916-29 January 1919

ITEM 02
Alexander John McKee photographs and postcards, 1917-1918

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years
Copyright holder:: State Library of New South Wales
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Transcription of the diary written by his daughter Lesly Gorbach, 2011 . Also includes `Notes on the diary of Alexander McKee' written by his Grand-daughter Beth Rogers

State Library of New South Wales collection of World War I diaries.