Born at Bungwall, Myall Lakes in 1888, to John and Mary (nee Gilkerson), William was the 2nd of their 10 children.
Working as a labourer William enlisted on the 22nd of July 1915 joining the 5th Reinforcements, 17th Battalion, aged 27 years and 3 months. His next of kin was listed as his father, of Berrico Creek (near Barrington), North Coast.
On the 6th of October 1915, the ‘HMAT A32 Themistocles’ departed Sydney bound for Suez with the 5th Reinforcements on board. Having arrived in Egypt, William was taken on strength with B Company, 17th Battalion on the 5th of February 1916.
After their withdrawal from Gallipoli and further training in Egypt, the 17th Battalion proceeded to France, departing Alexandria on the 17th of March 1916 to arrive at Marseilles on the 22nd. The battalion moved up to the front line in April and took over the forward position in the eastern Armentières section. On the 15th of April, William was wounded slightly while on duty.
Later, the 17th Battalion took part in the first major battle at Pozières, serving in the line twice at this time between July and August. On the 26th of July William was ‘Wounded in Action’ with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He was taken to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to the 26th General Hospital, Etaples where he spent from the 28th of July to the 26th of August. On the 27th of August he was discharged to base and taken on at the 2nd ADBD. For the Battalion meanwhile, a period of respite followed after August and on the 17th of September the battalion was moved north to Belgium along with the rest of the 2nd Division. On the 21st of September William rejoined the 17th Battalion in Belgium.
The battalion remained there until October, when they were transferred back to the Somme. For the remainder of the year, they undertook defensive duties along the front, although they were not involved in any major attacks, sparing them from having to mount an attack across the quagmire that the Somme battlefield had become. The battalion did however have to continue manning the front through a very bleak winter.
In 1917, after enduring a harsh winter, the 17th Battalion was involved in most of the major battles as the German Army shortened their lines and withdrew back towards the Hindenburg Line. On the 19th of April William was promoted to Lance Corporal before their first action, which was at Bullecourt in May. As part of the final throes of the British Army’s Arras offensive, a renewed attempt was made to secure the fortified village of Bullecourt commencing on the 3rd of May.
At 3:45am on the 3rd of May, the Australian 2nd Division (5th and 6th Brigades) and the British 62nd Division commenced the attack. The Australians penetrated the German line but met determined opposition, which frustrated the envelopment plan. Drawing more and more forces in, renewed efforts on the 7th of May succeeded in linking British and Australian forces but inspired a series of ferocious and costly German counterattacks, which were repulsed forcing the Germans to withdrew from the remnants of the village. Although the locality was of little or no strategic importance, the actions were nevertheless extremely costly: The AIF casualties totaled 7,482 from the three Australian Divisions. On that first day, the 3rd of May, William was one of the many to be ‘Killed in Action’. He was buried in the vicinity of Bullecourt, Hindenburg Line.
William’s personal effects that were returned to his father included a hair brush, clothes brush, pipe, letters, religious book, Arabic book, musketry book and a postcard.
