The AIF Project

William Henry McCARTHY

Regimental number1707
Date of birth31 January 1900
Place of birthStuart Town, via Wellington, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationRailway porter
AddressShore Creek via Wellington, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Next of kinFather, James McCarthy, Shore Creek via Wellington, New South Wales
Enlistment date24 November 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name54th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/71/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll56th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 4 September 1918

FateReturned to Australia 2 June 1919
Medals

Military Medal

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations at Peronne on 1-2 September 1918. When two Companies were held up this man repeatedly carried messages through heavy enemy machine gun fire. Wounded early in the attack and a second time in the afternoon, he refused to leave his Company, continuing to carry messages until utterly exhausted from the loss of blood. He set a splendid example of courage and untiring energy throughout the whole operations". Recommended by J.C. Stewart, Brigadier General Commanding 14th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919

Other details

War service: disembarked from the 'Ceramic' at Suez, 17 May 1916. Embarked per HMT 'Arcadian' at Alexandria, 27 July 1916; disembarked at Southampton, 9 August 1916. Admitted to hospital, 13 August 1916.

Embarked for service in France, 9 September 1916; taken on strength, 54th Bn, 19 September 1916. Sent to hospital, 1 November 1916, suffering from trench feet. Granted furlough, 14-19 January 1917.

Found guilty of being Absent without Leave, 3:30 pm 29 January 1917 to 4 pm 30 January 1917: awarded forfeiture of 2 days' pay. Transferred to 63rd Bn. Found guilty of being Absent without Leave from 6:45 am 31 July 1917 till apprehended by Military Police at 4:20 pm that afternoon. He was held in custody awaiting trial for 2 days. Total forfeiture: 4 days' pay.

Wounded in action, 1 September 1918; admitted to hospital suffering a gunshot wound to his arm.

Transferred to 56th Bn, 18 October 1918. On 8 November 1918, he was admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital, suffering influenza. On 8 January 1919 he was charged with being Absent without Leave from 0900 26 December 1918 to 2200 on the same day. Total forfeiture: 3 days pay.

Returned to Australia per HMAT 'Beltana", embarked 2 June 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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Place of burialCatholic Portion, Millthorpe Cemetery, New South Wales

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