Geoffrey McCraken shares the story of his grandfather, Robert Alan McCracken

Robert Alan McCracken was born in Essendon in 1889, a member of the famous Melbourne brewing family that founded the Essendon Football Club. 

After leaving Scotch College in 1910, he qualified as an architect from Melbourne University and started practice. In August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF at Prahran and before embarking on the HMAT Orivieto for overseas in October, he married Mabel Geraldine Fitzgerald. A Private in the 5th Inventory Battalion 15th Machine Gun Company, he landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, aged 26.

He was promoted to Lance-Corporal whilst at Gallipoli. On 20/12 1915 he was evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt after 8 months. On 2 April 1916 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at Ismalia. In July, he was wounded in action near Fleubaix in France.  On 16 August 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant but in October he was struck off strength due to wounds. After recuperating at the Wandsworth Hospital in South London, he was invalided back to Australia on the HT Karoola where his appointment was terminated in  January 1917. 

He had one son, my father, Charles McCracken who served in the AIF in New Guinea in World War II. Robert passed away in Melbourne on 28 June 1967.