Sapper Duncan McRae
Sapper Duncan McRae
anzaclanding

On April 26 1915, the day after the dawn landing at Gallipoli, Sapper Duncan McRae (2nd Field Co. of Engineers) was shot in the shoulder by a Turkish sniper. He was evacuated to Egypt and from there to a military  hospital in England.   Unfortunately it was discovered that the bullet had travelled down his body and lodged in his spine, causing paralysis of both legs.  He was repatriated to Australia, where he  underwent further, unsuccessful treatment, at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.

McCrae was born at Bothwell, in Tasmania, and by 1916 he was back in his home state.  Despite his disability he campaigned tirelessly for conscription, arguing that his mates at the front needed all the help they could get. Another cause close to his heart was trying to achieve  a better deal for wounded men when they were discharged from active service.

 

A SURGICAL MIRACLE?

In October 1917 the following article appeared in papers around Australia.

REMARKABLE OPERATION

IN HOBART HOSPITAL

HOBART, Monday – Dr Ratten, Surgeon Superintendent at the Hobart, performed a remarkable operation today, and apparently with complete success. ‘Sapper’ McRae, when at Gallipoli, was wounded by a Turkish bullet. He was sent to England and attended at various base hospitals, but without getting better, and was then returned to Australia, being treated at the hospitals  on the mainland, then ultimately coming back to Tasmania without being cured. His complaint was a form of paralysis. Having confidence in Dr Ratten he went into the Hobart Hospital and was placed under  the newly erected x-ray apparatus. The bullet was located pressing on the spine and today an operation was performed resulting in the bullet  being safely extracted, and the patient’s condition is very satisfactory.

Dr Ratten had only been at the hospital for a few months,  appointed amid  great controversy.  A dispute between the hospital and the British Medical Association had led to virtually all the other doctors resigning.  The board looked about for a replacement Surgeon Superintendent and settled on Victor Ratten.  As the holder of an American medical diploma,  Dr Ratten was not eligible to join the BMA.  He had arrived in Hobart the previous year, after nine years as a general practitioner in rural Tasmania.  Eager to prove himself among charges of being a strike breaker, he began feeding the local paper with stories of incredible operations.

Dr Victor Ratten, pictured outside the Hobart General Hospital. He operated on Sapper McRae.
Dr Victor Ratten, pictured outside the Hobart General Hospital.

His surgery on a high profile  Gallipoli hero while war was still raging  greatly enhanced his reputation.  The general public  believed  McRae had been  cured of his paralysis.  This  perception would serve Dr Ratten well the following year, when the validity of his medical qualifications  was challenged. It was alleged that he had purchased his diploma in Chicago, in 1907…..but that is another story.

In later years Duncan McRae’s family were under the impression that the bullet had never actually been removed, and perhaps it hadn’t.  Certainly his condition did not improve, although he disguised it very effectively (see photo below).  Nevertheless,  he led a full life.  In 1922 he married a nurse, Mary Dobbie.  While their  home was being built on Maria Island he would brace  himself against a stump or any other convenient prop, to saw the weatherboards.

Duncan 'Sapper' McRae and his wife Mary.
Duncan ‘Sapper’ McRae and his wife Mary. (photo – Sally Steel)

Originally a carpenter and joiner. he  became an accountant after the war, and took a great interest in  public affairs. He stood for parliament as a candidate for  the Temperance Movement, on a ticket that included veteran’s rights,  shipping services, and housing.

sapper-McRae Electoral ad.
sapper-mcRae


Ironically, Dr Ratten would also stand  as a candidate some years later

Duncan  McRae became an accomplished yachtsman, competing in multiple Sydney-Hobart races.

mcraeboat


IN CONCLUSION…

Sapper McRae  served his country at great personal cost. He unwittingly played a part in the story of  Dr Victor Ratten,  who had  also enlisted in WWI.  As Regimental Medical Officer of Tasmania’s 12th Battalion,  Captain Ratten sailed  in the same convoy as McRae.  However, his  war record  and his life were far  less honourable.

I would like to thank  Sally Steel for providing the photos of  her great uncle used in this article, and for the family information she generously shared.

HERE IS ANOTHER STORY OF SPECIAL TASMANIANS IN WWI, IN THIS CASE, NURSES.

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4 Comments
  1. What a hero! Fascinating story, Pauline – well done for putting it together.

  2. Nice biography Pauline. Well done for honouring Spr McRae

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