People Australia

Hugh Gilmore Maegraith, c 1917 photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

HUGH GILMORE MAEGRAITH, son of Mr. Alfred and Mrs. Louisa Maegraith, was born at Adelaide on 10 th January, 1895. He was educated at the University College, North Adelaide, and entered the service of the Bank on 12th January, 1915, at Lismore. Enlisting in Brisbane on 9th September of that year he was allotted to the reinforcements of the 15th Battalion.

He embarked soon afterwards and saw service in Egypt, France and Belgium, receiving promotion to the rank of corporal in October, 1916; sergeant, February, 1917; second-lieutenant in April, 1917; and first-lieutenant in September, 1917. Six days after his last promotion he was awarded the Military Cross for gallant conduct in action near Zonnebeke, Belgium.

“ ‘He set such a splendid example,’ runs the official record, ‘of dash and determination to his men during an attack, that they carried all opposition before them. His fearlessness and contempt of danger had a marked effect on the success of the operations.’ "

In the course of this engagement (the Battle of Menin Road) Lieutenant Maegraith was severely wounded. He was consequently invalided home and received his discharge from the A.I.F. on 23rd May, 1918.