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When two brothers, Colin John and George McVinish, migrated to Australia from Scotland in the late 1800s they had no idea they would be starting a chain of events that would lead to members of their family taking part in virtually every conflict involving Australian troops that followed.
The two brothers and their wives produced their fair share of offspring who between them and their progeny fought in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the war in Vietnam.
Colin John McVinish and his wife Helen Gerrie McVinish produced 11 children. Their eldest son, also Colin John, led the way by joining the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen contingent, fighting in the Transvaal, Cape Colony and Orange Free State before being invalided back to Australia in June 1902. He went on to join the 12th Army Brigade, Australian Field Artillery, in World War I, and fought in France.
Five of their sons (including Colin John) served in World War I. The others were Private James Gerrie McVinish, who was in the navy at the mine and submarine base on Swan Island, Victoria; Private Alexander Ogilvie McVinish, who served with the 26th Battalion in France and in Belgium where he became acting Sergeant and was later wounded; Air Mechanic Edwin Plaston McVinish who served with the Australian Flying Corps in England; and Air Mechanic William Gerrie McVinish, who started in the army and transferred to the Australian Flying Corps early in 1918.
Two of George's sons also served in World War I. Able Seaman George Bannatime McVinish, joined the Queensland Navy before Federation in 1901, sailing on the gunboat Gayundah, patrolling the Queensland coast and chasing pearl poachers off the northern coast of Australia before being sent with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to New Guinea. Private John McVinish, fought in France with the 25th Battalion.
World War II saw another generation of McVinish males serving their country. From Colin John's side of the family, LAC Kenneth John Joseph McVinish served with the RAAF in New Guinea, the Middle East and England; Sgt Angus Alfred McVinish, also in the RAAF served in the United Kingdom flying in Sunderlands as a tail gunner; LAC Rexford Clement McVinish, also in the RAAF, served in New Guinea; Private Kenneth Cameron McVinish, served with the 2/25th Battalion in the Middle East and New Guinea and became an acting Corporal; while his brother, Gunner William David Lewis McVinish, served with the 11th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in Solomon Islands and New Britain.
From George's side of the family, WO James Robertson McVinish served in the RAAF, mainly in the Northern Territory and later took part in the Malayan Emergency; Lt Cmdr John Henry McVinish joined the Royal Australian Navy, and served in Borneo, the South-East Asian islands and Hong Kong. Later, he took part in the Korean war on HMAS Warramunga. WO Bryan Anthony McVinish served with the Royal Australian Artillery during the Malayan Emergency and later in Vietnam. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1981.
In addition, Trooper William Harold Leslie Wyatt, who was married to Edith Clare, daughter of James Gerrie McVinish, also served with the Australian Light Horse Regiment in the Middle East in World War I. Sgt Richard Arthur Von der Groeben, brother of Josephine Joyce McVinish (nee Von der Groeben) who was married to Alexander McVinish, served with the RAAF in England as an air gunner, but was killed when his plane crashed after a training exercise.
Other off-spring to serve in the forces included Private Leonard James McVinish, National Service, Private Michael William McVinish, National Service, Private Madonna Mary McVinish, WRAC, Sgt Reynolds Michael McVinish, Australian Regular Army 1960-70, LAC Bradley John McVinish RAAF 1972-1982, Capt Richard Charles Morgan, son of Dorothy McVinish, 11 Field Squadron and Fl Lt Anne Nicole Morgan, daughter of Dorothy McVinish, RAAF Reserve 23 Squadron at Amberley.
(The material for this article was supplied by Bryan Anthony McVinish of Victoria)
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