Sergeant Lewis McGee

Service number	456
Ranks Held	Lance Corporal, Sergeant
Birth Date	13/05/1888
Birth Place	Australia: Tasmania, Ross
Death Date	12/10/1917
Death Place	Belgium: Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres
Final Rank	Sergeant
Service	Australian Imperial Force
Unit	40th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places	Belgium Ross Tasmania Ypres
Events	The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (456) Sergeant Lewis McGee, 40th Battalion, AIF, First World War, 1914-1918
Conflict/Operation	First World War, 1914-1918

Description

Lewis McGee (1888-1917) was born in Ross, Tasmania. He was 27, married and working as an engine-driver when he enlisted in Tasmania in early 1916. Although his battalion did not see any big battles until 1917, it did particularly good work in the attack on Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October. Leading a depleted platoon, McGee made a single-handed attack on a concrete blockhouse while armed with only a revolver. He then had an active part in consolidating the captured position.

Resuming the advance a week later, McGee was killed in the futile attack on Passchendaele.

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards:

Unit

40th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Sergeant
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

40th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Sergeant
Roll of Honour:

Unit

40th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Sergeant
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Unit

40th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Sergeant
First World War Embarkation Roll:

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Lance Corporal
First World War Nominal Roll:

Unit

40th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

First World War, 1914-1918

Rank

Sergeant

Timeline

Date of birth	13/05/1888
Date promoted	12/1916	Appointed to Lance Corporal.
Date of embarkation	01/07/1916
Date promoted	04/12/1916	Promoted to Corporal.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs)	01/03/1916	40th Battalion.
Date of enlistment	01/03/1916
Date of honour or award	04/10/1917	Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Ypres, France whilst serving with 40 Battalion, 10 Brigade, 3 Division as a Sergeant
Date of fate	13/10/1917
Date of death	12/10/1917	Killed in the action in Ypres, Belgium. He is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele.
Date of recommendation honour or award	21/10/1917
Date promoted	12/01/1917	Promoted to Sergeant.
Date of recommendation honour or award	1918