War Memorial Hall c1929
Duncan MCHUTCHISON
Duncan McHutchison was born on 3 September 1889 in Ascot Vale, Victoria. His parents were James and Agnes Combe (née Jones) McHutchison. He attended Scotch from 1903 to 1905.
Duncan was an insurance clerk when he enlisted on 17 July 1916 in Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the 23rd Battalion with the rank of Corporal. His Regimental Number was 5856.
Duncan died on 24 April 1918 at Millencourt, France. He was 28 years of age.
Service record
Duncan was a small man, just 5 feet 4 ¾ inches (164 cm) tall and weighing 10 stone 9 pounds. After being allocated as a Private to a Depot Battalion, he joined the 16th Reinforcements to the 23rd Battalion. He sailed for overseas on 2 October 1916, arriving at Plymouth, England on 16 November. On 28 December he was reverted to Acting Lance Corporal but on 24 January 1917 was promoted again to Corporal. On 4 February he sailed for France, where on 31 March 1917 he was taken on strength of the 23rd Battalion. Many of his comrades seem to have called him ‘Mac’. He was hospitalised on 27 June with ‘trench fever’ and was so sick that in August he was invalided to England. After eight days at Richmond hospital he was released for a furlough (leave) which lasted for nearly five weeks.
On 23 January 1918 Duncan embarked for France again, rejoining the 23rd Battalion on 24 February. Exactly two months later he was killed in action. A soldier is quoted in Duncan’s Red Cross Wounded and Missing file as saying that Duncan ‘was killed instantly by what was practically a direct hit from a whizz-bang shell [fired by German 77mm field gun] in a reserve trench near Millencourt.’ Another soldier of the battalion described Duncan as having a ‘small nuggety build [and] nice open disposition.’
His mate Corporal Secombe described Duncan as being killed instantly by a shell after leaving their shared dugout for a few minutes (see below). He described Duncan as very small and of ‘boyish appearance’. Another eyewitness said the shell fell at his feet. The Scotch Collegian reported that in one of his last letters, Duncan had written: ‘I have enjoyed every moment of it, and would not have missed it for anything.’
Duncan McHutchison is buried in the Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot IV, Row B, Grave No. 8), France.
Photographs and Documents:
From Duncan’s Red Cross Wounded and Missing file
Sources:
- Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour and Red Cross Wounded and Missing file
- Mishura Scotch Database
- National Archives of Australia – B2455, MCHUTCHISON D
- Scotch Collegian 1919
- The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=199073
