SINCLAIR, Colin (1893-1973)
SINCLAIR, Colin (1893-1973)
Colin Sinclair was born on 7 April 1893, the son of Peter Sinclair and Sarah Anne nee Tomlinson.
He was enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College in 1908, leaving in 1910. His address at entry was 'Selma', Mathoura, NSW.
During World War I, he enlisted (No. 2237) on 5 July 1916, and embarked for France on HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916 to serve with 37 Battalion. He became a Lance Corporal.
He embarked for return to Australia on 24 January 1918. Colin Sinclair died on 2 April 1973.
His brothers, John Sinclair (1884-1954), Archibald Sinclair (1897-1927), and Duncan Sinclair (1899-1971), were also educated at Geelong College.
The 37th Battalion was formed, as part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, in February 1916 at Seymour in Victoria. Its recruits were drawn from Melbourne, north-east Victoria and Gippsland. After training in both Australia and Britain, the battalion moved to France on 23 November 1916. Within a week it had begun to occupy trenches on the Western Front, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17. During this time the 3rd Division was heavily involved in raiding the German trenches. In February 1917, 37 Battalion provided 400 troops, with a similar party from 38 Battalion, to form a special 'raiding battalion'. After several weeks of training this force staged a single 35-minute raid on the night of 27 February and was then disbanded.
The 37th fought in its first major Battle at Messines, in Belgium, between 7 and 9 June 1917. For his actions during this battle, Captain Robert Grieve was awarded the Victoria Cross. The battalion fought in another two major attacks in this sector - the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October, and the Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October.
Colin Sinclair was born on 7 April 1893, the son of Peter Sinclair and Sarah Anne nee Tomlinson.
He was enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College in 1908, leaving in 1910. His address at entry was 'Selma', Mathoura, NSW.
During World War I, he enlisted (No. 2237) on 5 July 1916, and embarked for France on HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916 to serve with 37 Battalion. He became a Lance Corporal.
He embarked for return to Australia on 24 January 1918. Colin Sinclair died on 2 April 1973.
His brothers, John Sinclair (1884-1954), Archibald Sinclair (1897-1927), and Duncan Sinclair (1899-1971), were also educated at Geelong College.
The 37th Battalion was formed, as part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, in February 1916 at Seymour in Victoria. Its recruits were drawn from Melbourne, north-east Victoria and Gippsland. After training in both Australia and Britain, the battalion moved to France on 23 November 1916. Within a week it had begun to occupy trenches on the Western Front, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17. During this time the 3rd Division was heavily involved in raiding the German trenches. In February 1917, 37 Battalion provided 400 troops, with a similar party from 38 Battalion, to form a special 'raiding battalion'. After several weeks of training this force staged a single 35-minute raid on the night of 27 February and was then disbanded.
The 37th fought in its first major Battle at Messines, in Belgium, between 7 and 9 June 1917. For his actions during this battle, Captain Robert Grieve was awarded the Victoria Cross. The battalion fought in another two major attacks in this sector - the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October, and the Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October.
Source
Based on an edited extract from ‘Geelong Collegians at the Great War’ compiled by James Affleck. p310 (citing The Pegasus; Australian War Memorial; National Archives).