Pioneers Recognised And Honoured

Unmarked burial plots in Mackay have been given plaques and a WWI veteran given official recognition thanks to a family ancestry project.

Robert “Bob” James McGill, now a resident of Cairns but born and raised in Mackay, was researching his namesake when he realized his Great Uncle Bob was at rest in an unmarked grave in Mackay Cemetery.

He further realized that Bob was interred with his father James, known as “Jack”, who emigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800’s with his wife Maggie, becoming valued pioneers of the Mackay region and parenting six sons.

“They settled in the Hampden and Kuttabul parishes as farmer-graziers and set about building a dynasty which today remains their legacy,” said Mr McGill.

As young men, four of the six McGill brothers enlisted to serve when WWI enveloped Europe.

“Uncle Bob served as an ambulance attendant-driver,” Mr McGill said.

“A heroic and accursed task of retrieving injured soldiers from the trenches of the front line.

“It was a truly honourable contribution to helping his fellow enlistees try to survive the war.”

Bob was followed onto the WWI Belgian battle fronts by three of his brothers - Hughie, Jim, and Jack, all of whom enlisted in 1916 and embarked together on HMAT Karroo on May 5 of that year, all three joining 2nd Light Horse Regiment.

Remarkably, all four brothers survived the war and returned to Mackay.

“One brother, Jim, eventually moved into Mackay town,” said Mr McGill,

“He was my grandfather, who went on to have six children, the second child and eldest son, yet another “Jim” (James Edward) was my father, who later served in WWII.”

Upon returning to Mackay, the boys began a vibrant fresh meat trade.

In particular, Jack and his wife, Kate, opened a busy butchery and abattoir while raising a cluster of seven children.

Their grandson, John McGill, still operates the business to this day.

“The surname McGill is synonymous with Mackay, Kuttabul, and Walkerston,” said Mr McGill.

It is unknown why the graves have been unmarked for so long.

“Without second thought I see it as my duty, the least I can do, in collaboration with my sister Barbara, to honour and commemorate their place of rest with name plaques,” Mr McGill said.

Bob’s grave has been recognised by the Office of Australian War Graves with official commemoration.

“It is fitting, proper, and long overdue that the burial place of Robert McGill SN3564 b.1894-d.1965 now has formal marking and placement of a standard OAWG memorial,” Mr McGill said.

“Barb and I will now finalize and tidy Uncle Bob’s burial arrangements.

“He is, after all is said and done, my namesake.”

‍

Robert “Bob” James McGill with his sister Barbara and aunt Margaret

‍