John Patrick McGlinn
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General John Patrick McGlinn CMG, CBE (11 April 1869 – 7 July 1946) was a senior officer of the Australian Army
who served in World War I
.
, New South Wales
. He was educated at St John's School, Maitland
. He became a telegrapher with the New South Wales Postmaster-General's Department on 29 January 1883 and worked throughout the state.
McGlinn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New South Wales Military forces on 27 November 1893. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1898. He volunteered for service in South Africa
with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles. Arriving in Cape Town
in February 1900, he served all over South Africa. He returned to Australia
in March 1901.
With Federation
in 1901, McGlinn was transferred to the new Commonwealth Postmaster-General's Department
, working in Maitland as a telephone linesman. McGlinn was promoted to captain in 1905, major in 1906, becoming brigade major of the 1st Infantry Brigade, and lieutenant colonel on 23 December 1911.
of the 4th Brigade
chose McGlinn for his brigade major. Monash thus became the only brigadier general without a regular army brigade major, although Monash secured a regular, Captain C Jess
, as staff captain. McGlinn joined the First Australian Imperial Force
on 23 September 1914. While training in Egypt
with the 4th Brigade, Monash and McGlinn became close.
The 4th Brigade landed at Anzac Cove
on the evening of 25 April 1915. The brigade took over the critical left centre of the line. McGlinn worked hard to improve the quality of the brigade's defences, and the rule of thumb became that a trench had to be wide enough for McGlinn to walk down without touching the sides. McGlinn was acting commander of the 4th Brigade on Imbros
from 17 October 1915 to 8 November 1915, while Monash was in Egypt. For his services at Gallipoli, McGlinn was twice mentioned in dispatches and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
On 12 March 1916, McGlinn became Assistant Adjutant and QuarterMaster General of the newly formed 5th Division, under Major General
McCay
, and moved to Armentières, France, in June. He performed this task until he was evacuated sick on 9 November 1916. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel J Bruche and did not return to the 5th Division. Later in November he was again mentioned in dispatches.
In April 1917, McGlinn was appointed commander of No. 4 AIF Depot at Codford
in England
, again under McCay. Then on 24 October 1917, he took command of No. 2 AIF Depot at Weymouth. In this role he responsible for the processing of "casual reinforcements"; wounded men who had recovered and were being returned to their units. He was promoted to colonel in December 1917.
On 17 March 1918, McGlinn was promoted to temporary brigadier general and appointed Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General of all AIF Depots in the United Kingdom
. For this work, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1919 New Years List. On 31 August 1919, he became liaison officer in England for the Department of Repatriation.
for traitorous and disloyal statements concerning British policy in Ireland, allegedly uttered at the International Hotel
, Killarney
. He also stated that Britain would have lost the war if not for the AIF. He was tried by McGlinn's court martial on 26–27 November 1929 and acquitted, although not honourably.
McGlinn returned to Australia in March 1920. He commanded the 6th Brigade and was placed on the unattached list as a brigadier general in July 1920.
Returning to the PMG, McGlinn became deputy State Engineer (lines) for New South Wales. He was appointed a commissioner of the Public Service Board in 1923 and served until 1930. He was chairman of the Commonwealth (AIF) Canteens Trust Fund. In 1935-1942 he was a member of the State War Council of Victoria. He died on 7 July 1946 and was buried at St Kilda Cemetery with full military honours. He was survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
who served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life and career
John Patrick McGlinn was born on 11 April 1869 in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He was educated at St John's School, Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
. He became a telegrapher with the New South Wales Postmaster-General's Department on 29 January 1883 and worked throughout the state.
McGlinn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New South Wales Military forces on 27 November 1893. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1898. He volunteered for service in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles. Arriving in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in February 1900, he served all over South Africa. He returned to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in March 1901.
With Federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
in 1901, McGlinn was transferred to the new Commonwealth Postmaster-General's Department
Postmaster-General's Department
The Postmaster-General's Department was created at Federation in 1901 to control all postal services within Australia. Its minister was the Postmaster-General. In mid-1975 it was disaggregated into the Australian Telecommunications Commission and the Australian Postal Commission...
, working in Maitland as a telephone linesman. McGlinn was promoted to captain in 1905, major in 1906, becoming brigade major of the 1st Infantry Brigade, and lieutenant colonel on 23 December 1911.
World War I
In September 1914, John MonashJohn Monash
General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD was a civil engineer who became the Australian military commander in the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the War and then became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt shortly after the outbreak of the War with whom he took part...
of the 4th Brigade
Australian 4th Brigade
The 4th Brigade is a brigade-level formation of the Australian Army. Originally formed in September 1914 for service during World War I, elements of the brigade served at Gallipoli and in the trenches on the Western Front before being disbanded in 1919. In 1921, the brigade was re-raised as a unit...
chose McGlinn for his brigade major. Monash thus became the only brigadier general without a regular army brigade major, although Monash secured a regular, Captain C Jess
Carl Jess
Lieutenant General Sir Carl Herman Jess CB, CMG, CBE, DSO was an Australian Army officer who served in World War I and World War II.-Early life and career:...
, as staff captain. McGlinn joined the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
on 23 September 1914. While training in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with the 4th Brigade, Monash and McGlinn became close.
The 4th Brigade landed at Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
on the evening of 25 April 1915. The brigade took over the critical left centre of the line. McGlinn worked hard to improve the quality of the brigade's defences, and the rule of thumb became that a trench had to be wide enough for McGlinn to walk down without touching the sides. McGlinn was acting commander of the 4th Brigade on Imbros
Imbros
Imbros or Imroz, officially referred to as Gökçeada since July 29, 1970 , is an island in the Aegean Sea and the largest island of Turkey, part of Çanakkale Province. It is located at the entrance of Saros Bay and is also the westernmost point of Turkey...
from 17 October 1915 to 8 November 1915, while Monash was in Egypt. For his services at Gallipoli, McGlinn was twice mentioned in dispatches and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
On 12 March 1916, McGlinn became Assistant Adjutant and QuarterMaster General of the newly formed 5th Division, under Major General
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
McCay
James Whiteside McCay
Lieutenant General Sir James Whiteside McCay KCMG, KBE, CB, VD was an Australian general and politician. A graduate of the University of Melbourne, where he earned Master of Arts and Master of Laws degrees, he established a successful legal practice, McCay & Thwaites...
, and moved to Armentières, France, in June. He performed this task until he was evacuated sick on 9 November 1916. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel J Bruche and did not return to the 5th Division. Later in November he was again mentioned in dispatches.
In April 1917, McGlinn was appointed commander of No. 4 AIF Depot at Codford
Codford
Codford is a village and civil parish south of Salisbury Plain in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, England at .-Location:The village is on the A36 road between Salisbury and Warminster...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, again under McCay. Then on 24 October 1917, he took command of No. 2 AIF Depot at Weymouth. In this role he responsible for the processing of "casual reinforcements"; wounded men who had recovered and were being returned to their units. He was promoted to colonel in December 1917.
On 17 March 1918, McGlinn was promoted to temporary brigadier general and appointed Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General of all AIF Depots in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. For this work, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1919 New Years List. On 31 August 1919, he became liaison officer in England for the Department of Repatriation.
Post war
On 11 November 1919, McGlinn was attached to AIF Headquarters as president of the courts martial which tried Father O'Donnell, the Australian Catholic Chaplain. On 14 October 1919, O'Donnell was arrested in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for traitorous and disloyal statements concerning British policy in Ireland, allegedly uttered at the International Hotel
International Hotel
International Hotel may refer to:* International Hotel , a historic building* The I-Hotel, a residential hotel and community center in San Francisco, California* The former name of the Las Vegas Hilton...
, Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
. He also stated that Britain would have lost the war if not for the AIF. He was tried by McGlinn's court martial on 26–27 November 1929 and acquitted, although not honourably.
McGlinn returned to Australia in March 1920. He commanded the 6th Brigade and was placed on the unattached list as a brigadier general in July 1920.
Returning to the PMG, McGlinn became deputy State Engineer (lines) for New South Wales. He was appointed a commissioner of the Public Service Board in 1923 and served until 1930. He was chairman of the Commonwealth (AIF) Canteens Trust Fund. In 1935-1942 he was a member of the State War Council of Victoria. He died on 7 July 1946 and was buried at St Kilda Cemetery with full military honours. He was survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.