McInnis, Ronald Alison (Lieutenant, b.1890 - d.1982)

Places
Accession Number PR00917
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement 3 wallets: 5cm (4 items)
Object type Diary
Maker McInnis, Ronald Alison
Place made At sea, Australia, Belgium, Egypt, France, Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, United Kingdom: England
Date made 1915-1919
Access Open
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Ronald Alison McInnis, 5 Field Company and 8 Field Company, RAE and later 53 Battalion AIF. Collection consists of three diaries (in notebook and writing pads) and a later typed transcript (comprising extracts from the diaries and correspondence, not held) of Lieutenant Ronald Alison McInnis, covering the period May 1915 - May 1919. An engineer, McInnis was initially posted to 26th Battalion before transferring to 53rd Battalion in August 1916. The diaries document his initial training and service in Egypt (Tel-el-Kebir), and at Gallipoli (15 September-15 December 1915), referring to the actions at Quinn's Post and Russell's Top. From June 1916 he served in the front line in France (Armentieres/Fleurbaix in July, Albert/Bapaume in October 1916) before undertaking infantry school training in England early the following year and being promoted Lieutenant. He described in great detail the battles in which he participated, including Albert (February 1917), Bullecourt (May), Ypres/Passchendaele in Belgium (September) and the offensive against the Hindenburg line near Bellicourt (September 1918). His duties included initially trench construction and repair, and subsequently prosecuting Courts Martial and acting as liaison officer with other battalions. Related records of Lieutenant McInnis are held at 1DRL/0438, PR82/128 and G7432.G1 S65 x11.8e.