condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Charles Unsworth McGrath

-
Lay a poppy
Portrait of Private Charles Unsowrth McGrath, Military Medal, Royal Canadian Regiment. Archives New Zealand, R24184018. Image has no known copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Private Charles Unsowrth McGrath, Military Medal, Royal Canadian Regiment. Archives New …

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Charles Unsworth AWMM
  • Surname
    McGrath AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Charlie McGrath AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 477639 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Catholic, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    7 November 1887 AWMM Bay of Islands, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW1 Pre 15 August 1912 AWMM New Brunswick, Canada AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 Mr Joseph McGrath (father), Napier Police, Napier, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›
  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    1914-1919 Western Front AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 477639 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      Citation for Military Medal (MM): "For Conspicuous Bravery in the Field." [Source: London Gazette 29854]. When detached from his own Regiment, he placed himself under the orders of officer Commanding the 42nd Canadian Battalion, R.H.C. and after the attack of September 15th did great service in dressing the wounded, both of the 42nd Battalion and the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. In the attack of September 16th, he did exceptionally good work, regardless of fatigue and danger in dressing the wounded and bringing them in. His work, until he became detached from the Royal Canadian Regiment, was invaluable to all who came in contact with him." AWMM
    • 1914-1915 Star AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 15 August 1912 AWMM Clerk AWMM
    St Johns, Quebec Province AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    • Height, Unknown Period AWMM
      5 feet 10 1/4 inches AWMM
    • Chest expansion, Unknown Period AWMM
      33 inches (min); 36 1/2 inches (max) AWMM
    • Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
      Fresh AWMM
    • Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Blue AWMM
    • Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Light brown AWMM
    • Distinguishing marks, Unknown Period AWMM
      birthmark on right thigh, false teeth (whole top set) AWMM

Last known rank

Contribute ›

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
  • Son of Joseph Albert McGrath (ex-superintendent of New Zealand Police) and Mary Geraldine McGrath (nee Browne), of 26, Konini Rd., Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand.

    The date of death is probable as this was the date when the Royal Canadian Regiment was involved in a major offensive against the German line during the Battle of Ancre Heights. He was reported missing presumed dead.

    He was briefly a Sergeant as of 29 October 1915, but on landing in France 3 days later he was court martialled for drunkenness on active service and demoted to the rank of Private. It is likely he is buried somewhere near the village of Courcelette on the Somme.

    The Auckland Museum Library's manuscripts collection contains a hand-illustrated certificate honouring the bravery of Charles McGrath. [Ref. MS 2002/121]

    Age at death incorrect on CWGC AWMM
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    8 October 1916 AWMM
    Age 28 AWMM
    France, Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name
    Vimy Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember Charles Unsworth McGrath by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Charles Unsworth McGrath

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
    Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
    http://www.cwgc.org
    Sources Used
  • References
    • McGrath, Charles Unsworth. Certificate. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/121. AWMM
      McGrath, Charles Unsworth. Certificate. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/121. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
20 February 2018JeniferWairarapaResearcher

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.