SINCLAIR, Archibald (1897-1927)
SINCLAIR, Archibald (1897-1927)
'Archie' Sinclair was born on 5 November 1897, the son of Peter Sinclair and Sarah Anne nee Tomlinson.
He was a boarder at Geelong College enrolling in February 1911 and, according to the enrolment register, leaving in May 1913. He appears in Pegasus' valete list in August 1914 implying that his departure record in the enrolment register is possibly incorrect. His entry address was 'Selma' Mathoura, NSW and he had previously attended Mathoura State School. On leaving school he followed pastoral pursuits on his father's property at Mathoura, NSW.
Together with several other Old Collegians from his district he enlisted (No. 64515) during World War I, on 22 March 1918 and embarked for Egypt becoming a Lance Corporal, but the Armistice was signed before his arrival there.
He wrote from Syria on 31 March 1919:
'I joined the 8th (Light Horse) Regiment at Tripoli in Syria exactly a week after the Armistice was signed (31st October 1918). The regiment was there for four months, during which time I had four days' leave to Becharri, a village in the Lebanon mountains. It is about forty miles from Tripoli, but it is well worth the ride. Just above the village in the snow is a clump of five or six hundred cedar trees. These are protected, as they are the only ones of their kind in the world. It was from here that the timber was taken to build Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem. ... We left Tripoli at the end of February and came down to Moascar.
Soon after our arrival this disturbance among the native population arose, and we were sent out here to do guards at various towns. This place, Minet el Pamh, is a very poor sort of town, but the country round about is beautiful. Fresh water channels from the Nile flow past here, and as far as one can see there is nothing but beautiful crops of barley, beans, oats, sugar-cane, cotton, and peanuts, interspersed here and there with clumps of date palms. Of course the natives have very primitive methods of working their ground, and it is quite a common thing for a camel and a cow to be working together in a plough.'
'Archie' served in Syria until he embarked for return to Australia on 3 July 1919.
He died at a very young age on 26 July 1927. The Sydney Morning Herald published his death notice: ' 'Archie' Sinclair, third son of Peter Sinclair, Selma, Mathoura, NSW aged 29 years.'
Pegasus also reported his death in August 1927:
' The news of the death of Archie Sinclair came as a great shock to his many friends. He had been suffering for some time from lung trouble, and had been confined to his bed for long periods during the last three years. The reports, early this year, pointed to definite improvement in his condition, but on 26th July, he suddenly collapsed and had passed away in a few minutes.
He was at the College from 1911 to 1913. On leaving, he was with his father on their property at Mathoura, NSW. Early in 1918, together with several other Old Boys from the district, he enlisted, and joined the Light Horse. He sailed for Egypt, but the Armistice was signed before he reached there. On his return he again went on the land at his home, but shortly afterwards the illness developed, and he was forced to give up his work.
His bright and genial disposition made him a general favourite with all who knew him. Throughout all his illness he was always cheerful, and never complained. He will be greatly missed by all his old friends, and in his home district of Mathoura, where he took an active part in the Church and other organizations. He was one of those whose influence was always for good, and a worthy son of his old school.
His brothers, John Sinclair (1884-1954), Colin Sinclair (1893-1973), and Duncan Sinclair (1899-1971), were also educated at Geelong College.
'Archie' Sinclair was born on 5 November 1897, the son of Peter Sinclair and Sarah Anne nee Tomlinson.
He was a boarder at Geelong College enrolling in February 1911 and, according to the enrolment register, leaving in May 1913. He appears in Pegasus' valete list in August 1914 implying that his departure record in the enrolment register is possibly incorrect. His entry address was 'Selma' Mathoura, NSW and he had previously attended Mathoura State School. On leaving school he followed pastoral pursuits on his father's property at Mathoura, NSW.
Together with several other Old Collegians from his district he enlisted (No. 64515) during World War I, on 22 March 1918 and embarked for Egypt becoming a Lance Corporal, but the Armistice was signed before his arrival there.
He wrote from Syria on 31 March 1919:
'I joined the 8th (Light Horse) Regiment at Tripoli in Syria exactly a week after the Armistice was signed (31st October 1918). The regiment was there for four months, during which time I had four days' leave to Becharri, a village in the Lebanon mountains. It is about forty miles from Tripoli, but it is well worth the ride. Just above the village in the snow is a clump of five or six hundred cedar trees. These are protected, as they are the only ones of their kind in the world. It was from here that the timber was taken to build Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem. ... We left Tripoli at the end of February and came down to Moascar.
Soon after our arrival this disturbance among the native population arose, and we were sent out here to do guards at various towns. This place, Minet el Pamh, is a very poor sort of town, but the country round about is beautiful. Fresh water channels from the Nile flow past here, and as far as one can see there is nothing but beautiful crops of barley, beans, oats, sugar-cane, cotton, and peanuts, interspersed here and there with clumps of date palms. Of course the natives have very primitive methods of working their ground, and it is quite a common thing for a camel and a cow to be working together in a plough.'
'Archie' served in Syria until he embarked for return to Australia on 3 July 1919.
He died at a very young age on 26 July 1927. The Sydney Morning Herald published his death notice: ' 'Archie' Sinclair, third son of Peter Sinclair, Selma, Mathoura, NSW aged 29 years.'
Pegasus also reported his death in August 1927:
' The news of the death of Archie Sinclair came as a great shock to his many friends. He had been suffering for some time from lung trouble, and had been confined to his bed for long periods during the last three years. The reports, early this year, pointed to definite improvement in his condition, but on 26th July, he suddenly collapsed and had passed away in a few minutes.
He was at the College from 1911 to 1913. On leaving, he was with his father on their property at Mathoura, NSW. Early in 1918, together with several other Old Boys from the district, he enlisted, and joined the Light Horse. He sailed for Egypt, but the Armistice was signed before he reached there. On his return he again went on the land at his home, but shortly afterwards the illness developed, and he was forced to give up his work.
His bright and genial disposition made him a general favourite with all who knew him. Throughout all his illness he was always cheerful, and never complained. He will be greatly missed by all his old friends, and in his home district of Mathoura, where he took an active part in the Church and other organizations. He was one of those whose influence was always for good, and a worthy son of his old school.
His brothers, John Sinclair (1884-1954), Colin Sinclair (1893-1973), and Duncan Sinclair (1899-1971), were also educated at Geelong College.
Source
'Pegasus' August 1914 p6; 'Sydney Morning Herald' 30 July 1927 p14; Pegasus August 1927 p46; ‘Geelong Collegians at the Great War’ compiled by James Affleck. p311 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).