The AIF Project

David RANKIN

Regimental number336
Place of birthRockhampton, Queensland
SchoolChristian Brothers College, Rockhampton, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBottler
Address431 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 7"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinMrs Julia Rankin, 431 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Previous military serviceServed in Naval Forces, Rockhampton, Queensland.
Enlistment date17 September 1914
Place of enlistmentRockhampton, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll15th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 7 March 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death22
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 17), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
77
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Thomas and Julia RANKIN, 431 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 12 April 1915.

Joined 15th Bn, Gallipoli, 9 July 1915.

Wounded in action, 7 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held at Serapeum, Egypt, 6-8-28 April 1916, declared fate to be 'killed in action, 7 August 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2240312E, Lt J. FRASER, B Company, 15th Bn (patient, 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell), 17 August 1916: 'Knew Pte.Rankin personally and states that he went out as a scout on the night of Aug 7th about midnight and entered the enemy country. This was the last time he was heard of. It as dark at the time.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, RANKIN David
Red Cross File No 2240312E

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