Allan Cecil McFee
3098 Pte. Allan Cecil McFee was born in Murrumbeena in 1894 to William Thomas McFee and Annie Aspinall.He was educated at Rhyll State School and at the time of enlistment he was oystering at Rhyll with his brother Len.He joined up with the 10/6th Infantry Battalion on 4th July 1915.
“McFee encamped in with other Victorian reinforcements on a flat dusty plain at Broadmeadows, serviced by a rail line and single road. Each tent contained 10 men of which on average less than half would return to Australia unharmed. Drills, route marches, new uniforms, new weapons, leave and visits from admiring relatives came and went.
After initial training, Allan McFee embarked aboard the troop transport Osterley for Egypt. The deck on which McFee and his mates were accommodated was well below the waterline. He messed at tables for twelve and slung his hammock above the table. By the time his transport had entered the Australian Bight disease had broken out for sanitary arrangements were primitive for 2,500 men and horses.”
Alan Box (1984)
Allan McFee became seriously ill and died of measles on 12th October 1915. He was buried at sea.
Allan McFee is commemorated on the Cowes Obelisk, Phillip Island RSL Book of Honour, Phillip Island RSL Roll of Honour, and St Philip’s Roll of Honor.
From “Forgotten Names, Phillip Island War Memorials” by Andrew Box.