SKENE - SCOTLAND
Alexander Peter Imlay (1885-1959), Norman George Imlay (1887-1973), soldiers, and Ellen Jeanie Imlay (1881-1978), nursing sister, were the sons and daughter of Alexander William Imlay, station manager, and his wife Emma Carbery, née Woodlands. Ellen was born on 15 April 1881, at Toowoomba, Queensland, Alexander on 1 February 1885 at Comongin South station, Bulloo River, and Norman on 11 January 1887 at Croydon, Sydney. Alexander Imlay was their grandfather. Their father, who had served in the Maori Wars as a naval surgeon, died in 1888.
Alexander, educated at Crown Street Superior Public School, Sydney, was a commercial traveller at the time of his marriage to Edith Henrietta Murray at the Marrickville Presbyterian Church on 22 December 1909. He soon went to Adelaide as a mercantile manager for Arthur Cook & Sons. Norman, also state school educated, became a clerk with John Hunter, Sydney, in April 1910 and then with Burns, Philp & Co. in 1910-13. In Papua he joined the public service as a customs officer.
Both Alexander and Norman showed an early interest in military affairs. They served in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles, Alexander in 1901-08 and Norman in 1904-06. In Adelaide on 1 July 1914 Alexander joined the 75th (Hindmarsh) Infantry, Australian Military Forces, as second lieutenant; he was commissioned second lieutenant, 16th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 29 September. Norman served in Papua from October 1914 with the European Armed Constabulary and joined the 20th Battalion, A.I.F., on 8 October 1915. Ellen also evinced an interest in army work before the war: she trained as a nurse in Sydney and joined the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1912, transferring to the A.I.F. on 20 March 1915.
Alexander embarked for Egypt on 22 December 1914. Promoted lieutenant on 25 March next year, he landed at Gallipoli on 26 April, and was involved in heavy fighting. Seriously wounded on 2 May, he was evacuated to England, but rejoined his battalion on Gallipoli as company commander on 31 October. On 20 January 1916 in Egypt he was promoted captain and in March transferred to the 48th Battalion as second-in-command with promotion to major. Between March and June, as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, he was involved in operations against the Turks in the Sinai Desert. Wounded on 13 May, he was hospitalized for two weeks before embarking for France on 2 June.
Between June and November in France and Belgium Imlay engaged in operations at Houplines, Fleurbaix, Pozières (where he was wounded but remained on duty), Mouquet Farm, Wytschaete, Flers and Gueudecourt. On 1 March 1917 he transferred to the 47th Battalion as second-in-command and after the 1st battle of Bullecourt on 11 April was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He took command of the battalion on 20 April following the wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Lewis and was promoted temporary lieutenant-colonel. On 12 October at Passchendaele he was severely wounded by shell-fire and was evacuated to England; for his 'gallantry and conspicuous bravery' he was awarded a Bar to his D.S.O. Returning to France on 4 February 1918, he was again wounded on 5 April at Dernancourt but remained on duty. In May the 47th Battalion was disbanded and Imlay, who had been four times mentioned in dispatches, was given command of the 12th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire, England. He remained with this unit until it was disbanded in February 1919. His A.I.F. appointment was terminated in August after his return to Australia.
Alexander Imlay was promoted major in the A.M.F. in August 1920 and transferred to the reserve of officers as lieutenant-colonel in October. Next year he joined the Gordon Highlanders, British Army, as captain and in 1930, after a period of secondment, transferred to the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. Promoted major in 1935, he retired in 1937 but was reappointed in 1940 as major (honorary lieutenant-colonel) for service during World War II. He died on 23 April 1959 at Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland, survived by his wife and children.
Australian Dictionary of Biography by K.R. White
IMLAY - Suddenly, at his home, Westhill House, Skene, on April 23, 1959, Lieut-Col Alexander Peter Imlay, D.S.O. (late Gordon Highlanders), devoted husband of Edyth and father of Joice, Alastair, John and Jean. Service at Crematorium on Monday, April 27 at 4p.m. to which all friends are respectfully invited.
Alexander, educated at Crown Street Superior Public School, Sydney, was a commercial traveller at the time of his marriage to Edith Henrietta Murray at the Marrickville Presbyterian Church on 22 December 1909. He soon went to Adelaide as a mercantile manager for Arthur Cook & Sons. Norman, also state school educated, became a clerk with John Hunter, Sydney, in April 1910 and then with Burns, Philp & Co. in 1910-13. In Papua he joined the public service as a customs officer.
Both Alexander and Norman showed an early interest in military affairs. They served in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles, Alexander in 1901-08 and Norman in 1904-06. In Adelaide on 1 July 1914 Alexander joined the 75th (Hindmarsh) Infantry, Australian Military Forces, as second lieutenant; he was commissioned second lieutenant, 16th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 29 September. Norman served in Papua from October 1914 with the European Armed Constabulary and joined the 20th Battalion, A.I.F., on 8 October 1915. Ellen also evinced an interest in army work before the war: she trained as a nurse in Sydney and joined the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1912, transferring to the A.I.F. on 20 March 1915.
Alexander embarked for Egypt on 22 December 1914. Promoted lieutenant on 25 March next year, he landed at Gallipoli on 26 April, and was involved in heavy fighting. Seriously wounded on 2 May, he was evacuated to England, but rejoined his battalion on Gallipoli as company commander on 31 October. On 20 January 1916 in Egypt he was promoted captain and in March transferred to the 48th Battalion as second-in-command with promotion to major. Between March and June, as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, he was involved in operations against the Turks in the Sinai Desert. Wounded on 13 May, he was hospitalized for two weeks before embarking for France on 2 June.
Between June and November in France and Belgium Imlay engaged in operations at Houplines, Fleurbaix, Pozières (where he was wounded but remained on duty), Mouquet Farm, Wytschaete, Flers and Gueudecourt. On 1 March 1917 he transferred to the 47th Battalion as second-in-command and after the 1st battle of Bullecourt on 11 April was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He took command of the battalion on 20 April following the wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Lewis and was promoted temporary lieutenant-colonel. On 12 October at Passchendaele he was severely wounded by shell-fire and was evacuated to England; for his 'gallantry and conspicuous bravery' he was awarded a Bar to his D.S.O. Returning to France on 4 February 1918, he was again wounded on 5 April at Dernancourt but remained on duty. In May the 47th Battalion was disbanded and Imlay, who had been four times mentioned in dispatches, was given command of the 12th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire, England. He remained with this unit until it was disbanded in February 1919. His A.I.F. appointment was terminated in August after his return to Australia.
Alexander Imlay was promoted major in the A.M.F. in August 1920 and transferred to the reserve of officers as lieutenant-colonel in October. Next year he joined the Gordon Highlanders, British Army, as captain and in 1930, after a period of secondment, transferred to the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. Promoted major in 1935, he retired in 1937 but was reappointed in 1940 as major (honorary lieutenant-colonel) for service during World War II. He died on 23 April 1959 at Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland, survived by his wife and children.
Australian Dictionary of Biography by K.R. White
IMLAY - Suddenly, at his home, Westhill House, Skene, on April 23, 1959, Lieut-Col Alexander Peter Imlay, D.S.O. (late Gordon Highlanders), devoted husband of Edyth and father of Joice, Alastair, John and Jean. Service at Crematorium on Monday, April 27 at 4p.m. to which all friends are respectfully invited.