McClymonts in the Services

Photos:

1. Archibald( Eleventh born) in uniform- wounded at Villers Bretonneux.

2. Murray ( son of Archibald) killed in an air-training crash at Wagga.

3. Alexander Norman and Cecil heading off to enlist.

4. Norman( Fourteenth born) in uniform.

McClymonts in the Services. (Information taken from the Aust War Memorial and related sites.)

Boer War

Three McClymonts enlisted for the Boer War – one, a John Joseph from Victoria, also enlisted for WW1 and was killed in France. From the family tree;

George McTaggart McClymont – No.260 Served with the NSW Imperial Bushmen, becoming a Corporal 24.3.1901, and mentioned in despatches 9.7.1901.

World War 1

Over twenty McClymonts enlisted, 6 of these from the family tree and these consisted of 2 x 3 brothers.

Three sons of Alexander and Isabella:

Archibald McClymont – No 2359 Pte with the 36^th Btn. He enlisted 30.5.1916 (was married that year also), embarked 17.10.1916 at Sydney, served in France, was wounded, and returned to Australia 15.9.1918.

Norman Clarence McClymont – No 3159 Pte with the 54^th Btn. Enlisted 7.9.1916, embarked 11.11.1916, served in France, and returned to Australia 12.6.1919.

Robert McClymont – No N86965 enlisted in Sydney, 12.3.1918.

Three sons of Thomas Neil and Cis:

Cecil James McClymont –No 266 Pte/Sgt with the 12^th Light Horse, enlisted 27.1.1915 and embarked 13.6.1915. He saw active service in Gallipoli and Egypt, and returned to Australia 12.11.1917.

Alexander Thomas McClymont – No 1564 also Pte. in 12^th Light Horse. Enlisted 1.8.1915, and embarked 23.10.1915. Alexander was killed in action in the famous Light Horse charge on Beersheba 31.10.1917, at age 23, and is buried in the Beersheba War Cemetery.

Norman Strang McClymont – No 3189 again Pte. of the 12^th Light Horse. He enlisted 13.2.1917 (was just 20 years old, also married that year) and embarked 10.5.1917 for Egypt. He returned to Australia on 4.3.1919.

World War 2

About sixty McClymonts enlisted for WW2, from Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas and WA, and also from overseas. Nine of these are of our family tree, from 4 families, the first 3 being brothers, the next 2 brother and sister, the next 3 were also of one family (of Norman Strang, who saw active service in WW1) and the last was the son of Arch who also saw active service in WW1.

Robert Ian McClymont – No 23713 RAAF Sgt. Ian enlisted 31.10.1940 and was discharged 3.11.1945.

Archibald James McClymont – No Q214917, Army Pte, enlisted 4.7.1942, discharged 21.10.1945.

Alexander Cunningham McClymont – No QX29710 Army Lt, enlisted 5.2.1942, discharged 11.10.1945.

James McCredie McClymont – No Q214834 Army Pte, enlisted 6.6.1942, discharged 21.10.1945.

Jessie Isabella McClymont – No NX141727 Army Lt, enlisted 20.12.1942 and discharged 5.8.1946.

Neil Vallack McClymont – No 6932 RAAF Sgt and Leading Aircraftman, enlisted 15.1.1940. Neil, “Gidgie”, saw active service in Egypt and France. He was discharged 2.10.1945.

David Mackinnon McClymont – No 405491 RAAF Flight Lt/Flying Officer. He enlisted 31.3.1941, saw active service in New Guinea, and was discharged 17.4.1945.

Dorothy Joan McClymont – No QFX64068 Army Lt, enlisted 13.6.1945 and serving in New Guinea, Joan was discharged 10.4.1947.

Archibald Murray McClymont – N0 414066 RAAF Leading Aircraftman. Murray enlisted 20.7.1941, and was the fatal victim of an accident at Flying Training School on 7.4.1942, not long before his 22^nd birthday. He is buried at Inverell.

Also members of the family tree and serving in WW2, are some with another surname. Apologies for ones that have been overlooked, families please let us know of any people and/or details that should be added to this list:

John Tyrrell KELMAN – No Q30764 Army Lt, enlisted 22.10.1941 and discharged 17.12.1943.

Roy Bradshaw BANKS – No 404530 RAAF briefly, later No Q19366 Army Lt, enlisted 19.9.1941, discharged 31.1.1942. Kelly BANKS – No NX78946 Army Sgt, enlisted 16.12.1941, discharged 1.4.1946.

Oscar Edward WALKER – N0 NX30697 Army Sgt, enlisted 6 .6.1940, discharged 6.11.1943.

Samuel Gordon MILLS – No 424931 RAAF Leading Aircraftman, enlisted 9.10.1942 and discharged 21.3.1946.

Donald Frederick ILLING – No QX27928 Army, enlisted 20.2.1942, discharged 16.5.1946.

Suzanne Frances SHAW – No NF453027 Army Cpl, enlisted 8.3.1943, discharged 23.12.1946.

Three McClymonts were enlisted for the Korean War and seven for Vietnam. One McClymont member of this family tree served in Vietnam:

James Robert McClymont - No 1736477 Army Pte/Lance Cpl with 4^th Battalion.

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For a blog in relation to the members of the family who fought at Beersheeba look at the blog on 28 April 2010.

AN ACCOUNT OF THOMAS NEILL McCLYMONT'S LIFE 1866 - 1932

Thomas with his three sons Cecily, Norman and Alexander.Above is his daughter Florence.

Lachlan McClymont, his grandson, kindly provided this account of the first born Manuka McClymont

"Here are a few facts and figures as I remember them.

My grandfather Thomas Neill was know by the family as “Pardy”, he was the first born of Alexander and Isabella in 1866.

Tom lived at a property named “Wandilla” outside Warialda in Northern New South Wales. He married Emily Strang “Cis”.

They had three sons and a daughter, - Cecil, Alex, Norman and Florence.

I think he acquired “Wandilla” in a land ballot about 1892 - a resumption of “Yaleroi” Station. It was improved Brigalow and Belah block until he netted it and got rid of the rabbits.

Tom was known as a successful breeder of horses – both saddle and harness supplying and selling many around the district, his breed was T C ( TC double dot over the letters.)

My father Norman's ( Tom's 3^rd son) first job when he returned from war service in 1919 was to take the 'Wandilla” horses to adjistment on the coast near Casino as 1919 was a drought year.

As “Wandilla was improved, sheep, cattle and horses were successfully run and then he started farming. As a child I remember going to watch the harvesting. Grandfather and my father cut the crop with scythes and a boy stacking it in “stookes”

The next thing I remember was a bullock team coming from “Wandilla” to my father's property “Mirurin” near Yetman in Northern N.S.W. To cart logs to the local sawmill and doing some tank sinking for my father.

I believe this was his brother George's bullock team, which he had left at “Wandilla” and was worked by Paddy and Denny Murphy -two Irishmen who spoilt us kids. Later the bullocks were sold and the wagon left at “Wandilla”. Paddy and Denny retired to Boggabilla. I have the old bullock bell from the team. Two of the bullocks were named “Scarlet”- a long horned red (a lead bullock) and “Butler” a yellow and white 'poler'. The two bullocks kept the pace level.

Pardy was a very strong man,Warialda Show a sideshow man was offering money to anyone who could carry two bags of corn (192lbs a bag) a certain distance. Pardy did this course with a bag on each arm and one on his shoulders – a terrific feat!

I remember the day Pardy died, we received a phone call and my father rode to Wandilla. Pardy had been pressing wool in the woolshed when he had a heart attack."

Thank you Lachlan for writing this important record of your branch of this man with 127 decendants!

Joan Illing, Lachlan's sister also has many stories of affection for Pardy as she remembered him in her childhood. He was lots of fun as a grandparent. She told both Lesley and I many memories by telephone as she was unable to join us for the reunion but was very helpful with oral history. I sent her copies of the blogs and she read them all with real interest.

"Wandilla" homestead is picture here.