John McIlroy was the son of Charles and Susan McIlroy, of 26 Smith St., Dunedin, New Zealand. Born at Gimmerburn, Otago. Served at Gallipoli, and on the Western Front.

Joined Otago Infantry Bn, Cape Helles, 9 May 1915.
Admitted to NZ Field Ambulance, Anzac, 8 June 1915 (appendicitis), and transferred same day to Hospital Ship; admitted to St Andrew's Hospital, Malta, 26 June 1915; transferred to Egypt, and disembarked Alexandria, 28 August 1915; rejoined Bn, Gallipoli, 5 September 1915.
Admitted to HS 'Somali', 18 September 1915 (pyrexia); transferred to NZ General Hospital, Cairo, 23 November 1915; discharged to duty, 31 January 1916.
Admitted to NZ General Hospital, 2 February 1916 (dental trouble); discharged to Aotea Convalescent Home, Heliopolis, 7 February 1916; discharged to Convalescent Camp, Zeitoun, 14 February 1916; discharged to duty, 23 March 1916.
Embarked Port Said to join the British Expeditionary Force, France, 13 April 1916; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, Armentieres, 23 May 1916, and posted to 4th Company.
Wounded in action, 4 June 1916 (shell shock), and admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance; transferred to 14th Stationary Hospital, Boulgne, 26 June 1916; to England, 28 June 1916, and admitted to County of Middlesex War Hospital; transferred to NZ Convalescent Camp, Greytowers, 9 August 1916; marched in to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 2 September 1916.
Proceeded overseas to France, 23 November 1916; marched in to NZ Base, Etaples, 28 November 1916.
Found guilty, 6 December 1916, of being absent without leave: forfeited 3 days' pay.
Rejoined Bn, in the field, 10 December 1916.
Wounded in action (second occasion), 2 January 1917 (shell shock), and admitted to No 3 NZ field Ambulance; transferred to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 3 January 1917; to No 12 Casualty Clearing Station, 18 January 1917; to 4th Stationary Hospital, 26 January 1917; discharged to unit, 7 February 1917.
Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 24 February 1917; rejoined unit, 2 March 1917.
Attached to NZ Working Bn, 12 March 1917.
Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 18 March 1917; discharged to Reinforcements Camp, 28 March 1917.
Found guilty, 9 April 1917, of being absent without leave: forfeited 1 day's pay.
Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 12 April 1917; transferred to No 2 NZ Field Field Ambulance, 13 April 1917 (syncope); rejoined unit, 24 April 1917.
Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 4 May 1917 (mumps); rejoined unit, 21 May 1917.
Detached to YMCA, 3 June 1917.
Wounded in action (third occasion), 13 June 1917, admitted to 9th Australian Field Ambulance (exhaustion), and transferred same day to 12th Australian Field Ambulance; to 33rd Casualty Clearing Station, 16 June 1917; to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, 17 June 1917; to England, 28 June 1917 (debility), and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 29 June 1917; transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 6 July 1917; discharged to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 16 August 1917.

Found guilty, 21 November 1917, of (1) disobeying an order; (2) insolence to an NCO; (3) using obscene language to an NCO and being absent from parade: forfeited 7 days' pay.
Found guilty, 11 April 1918, of (1) making use of a comrade's pass; (2) being in possession of an altered pass; (3) being absent without leave from 7 am, 8 April, until brought into camp under escort, 8.15 pm, 9 April 1918: awarded 14 days' detention, forfeiture of 21 days' pay gross, court fees of 2/-, and 2 days' pay under Royal Warrant.
Proceeded overseas to France, 18 April 1918; joined 1st Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 20 August 1918, and posted to 10th Company.
Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 21 August 1918 (debility); rejoined unit, 30 August 1918.
Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 1 June 1918 (debility); transferred to 29th Casualty Clearing Station, 5 June 1918; to Ambulance Train No 15, 6 June 1918, and admitted to No 6 General Hospital, Rouen, 7 June 1918. Transferred to England, 8 June 1918, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 9 June 1918.
Classified 'unfit' by Medical Baord, 7 September 1918, and placed on NZ Roll.
Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board HT 'Ulimaroa', 7 November 1918; arrived, 19 December 1918. AWMM