Octimus McGavin

  General Notes:

Octimus signed up for the AIF on the 3rd October 1916. He was recorded as 22 years and 1 month old (he was actually 20 years old), a Labourer, and single. He was 5 feet 8 3/4 inches tall, 163 lbs with chest measuring 36-39 inches. His complexion was Fresh, eyes Brown and Hair Dark Brown. His religion was Roman Catholic. He had scars on both shins and on his right forearm.

He was asssigned to the No 11 Machine Gun Company as a Private but was discharged as medically unfit on the 1st December 1916 suffering from "Meningococal Septicaemia". Recorded on his file was the notation "Character Good". His file suggests that he began suffering from his illness about the 24th October, 1916 whilst at the Seymour training camp. His medical file records episodes of headaches, vomiting, and back stiffness and pain. In his 2nd week of training he was reported as "Keen and interested in his work" and in the 3rd week "Improving greatly, make fair gunner".

On the NSW BDM Website his forename is recorded as "Ostemus" in what I believe to be his marriage record.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Labourer at the time he enlisted in the AIF on 3 Oct 1916.

Octimus married Harriet E Bull in 1918 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.