Pre- WWI, Clyde lived on Hauraki Street, Birkenhead, with his father, Constable Alexander McGilp (Birkenhead's first resident police officer) and his mother, Mary. The McGilps had eight children: five sons and three daughters. Three of their five sons - Douglas (35300), Clyde (7475, 2/280) and Lionel - served in WWI. Douglas returned home, Clyde did return home but died in 1918, and Lionel was discharged.

He had a long and honourable career serving his country. It began at the age of 18 when he served in the South African war in 1902 as a Private.

On his return to New Zealand, he stayed with the army, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1906 and Captain in 1909.

When World War 1 broke out, he enlisted on 27 August 1914 with the 1st Battery of the NZ Field Artillery.

He was promoted to the Officer Commanding (OC) of this Battery on 26 July 1915, aged 21. He kept command of the Battery throughout its campaigns in Egypt in 1914-16, in Gallipoli in 1915 and even when it combined with the 3rd, 7th and 8th Battalions to form the 1st Brigade in France in 1916.

On 18 July 1918, McGilp was passed unfit for military service and returned to NZ. He became an artillery instructor at Featherston Military Camp with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.


McGilp died at Featherston on November 14 1918 of influenza during the Flu Epidemic of 1918. He was only 35. AWMM