Pte
Andrew Hugh McKinstry

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1897
Place of birth:
Goornong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

General information

Profession:
Labourer
Religion:
Church of England

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
5152
Enlistment date:
11/01/1916
Enlistment place:
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria)  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
04/10/1917
Place of death:
Broodseinde, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
20

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XXV
Row: D
Grave: 22

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Private Andrew Hugh McKinstry was 19 years of age when he enlisted in the 21st Battalion (part of the 2nd Division, 6th Brigade) of the AIF on 11 january 1916 at Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
He was the son of William John and Charlotte McKinstry and had 3 other brothers in WWI: sergeant Thomas Marshall and private James Alexander, both serving with the 21st Battalion and Arthur Taggart who served with the Light Horse in the Middle East.

In November 1916 he was taken to a hospital in England with Pneumonia and returned to France in the beginning of 1917.

The Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele, took place on the 4th October 1917. That day the 2nd Division attacked at 05.25 a.m., zero hour, met the same German counterattacks as the 1st Australian Division and likewise fought them off.
Chasing the retreating Germans, the 6th Brigade skirted Zonnebeke Lake and helped capture the village itself. On the way they captured four anti-tank field guns and carried on over their first objective without stopping, although some companies were brought back tot he first objective. The final objective was taken including Broodseinde village.

During these operations private Andrew Hugh McKinstry, age 20, was killed. Previously he was reported wounded and missing but the Court of Enquiry held in the field on 7th February 1918 reported private McKinstry as killed in action on 4th October 1917.
During the battle he was burried at Broodseinde Cemetery where he fell, but later reburried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXV Row D Grave 22.
His older brother Thomas Marshall was killed in the same Battle, serving with the same Battalion, at the age of 22. His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. His two other brothers returned safely to Australia.

Connection to other soldiers 1