Alberto Dias McIver (1884 - 1917)

Ancestors

Biography

Alberto Dias McIver was born on 25th December 1884 in Wentworth, New South Wales, on the Murray River. He was the third son of Charles McIver and Anna Soares. ^[1] The family later settled at Rollands Plains, near Port Macquarie on the New South Wales north coast. Alberto was sixteen years of age when New South Wales joined the other five British Colonies to federate as the Commonwealth of Australia.

On 6 May 1917 at Armidale, in northern New South Wales, aged 32 years 4 months, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service abroad. His occupation on enlistment was Forest Guard. He arrived at the Show Ground Camp, Sydney on 19 June 1917, when his service commenced and was assigned to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Liverpool, New South Wales (also referred to as 1st Depot Battalion), as a Private. His Death Certificate from the Hospital indicates his rank as Corporal, as does the report in The Macleay Chronicle, but it seems very unlikely that he was promoted in the short period of his training. ^{[2] [3]}

MENINGITIS CASE.^[4]

Corporal A. D Mclver, son of Mr. C Mclver of Rollands Plains, returning home from Liverpool camp, on final leave, was taken seriously ill in the train; and Dr. Wallace with Dr. Begg of Wauchope diagnosed the trouble as meningitis. Kempsey being the only convenient town where the proper serum was procurable, the patient was brought on here; and is now in the District Hospital under treatment of Dr. Maclnnes. To-day Capt. (Dr.) Brown, a specialist, arrives from Sydney to report on the case, which is to be hoped may not prove serious.

He died at the Macleay District Hospital, Kempsey on 24 August 1917 from epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis, having been sick for five days, and in the army for just over two months. He was buried at West Kempsey Cemetery. ^[5][6] A Memorial Plaque and a Memorial Scroll were sent to his father, Charles McIver at Rollands Plains in February 1923. Albert Dias McIver's name is located at panel 186 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra and on the Cenotaph at Rolland's Plains. ^{[2] [3] [7] [4]}

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 14 Feb 2023), Index entry for MCIVER ALBERTO D; Parents: CHARLES & ANNA S; District: WENTWORTH; Registration Number: 32885/1884
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} National Archives of Australia - RecordSearch

   Title: McIver Alberto Dias : SERN DEPOT N78670 : POB Wentworth NSW : POE Armidale NSW : NOK F McIver Charles

   Contents range: circa 1914 - circa 1920

   Series number: B2455

   Control symbol: MCIVER A D

   Item ID: 1947641

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

   Private Albert Dias McIver

   Service number: 78670

   Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918

   Rank: Private

   Service: Australian Imperial Force

   Death Date: 24 August 1917

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} MENINGITIS CASE. (1917, August 22). The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey, NSW : 1899 - 1952), p. 4. Retrieved February 14, 2023, from NLA Trove
5. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission; accessed 14 Feb 2023
6. ↑ Geni profile for Alberto Dias McIver, includes (poor quality) headstone photo; accessed 14 Feb 2023
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #120437126 (accessed 14 February 2023)
   Memorial page for CPL Alberto Dias “Bert” McIver (1884-24 Aug 1917), citing West Kempsey Cemetery, West Kempsey, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia (plot: Utg); Maintained by Floyd (contributor 46567348).