| Regimental number | 1675 |
| Place of birth | London, England |
| School | Gilles Street Public School, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Hairdresser |
| Address | 223 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 6.75" |
| Weight | 136 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Ellen Berkinshaw, 223 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Served as a Sergeant in the Cadet Force. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A30 Borda on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 15th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Died at Etaples, France. |
| Fate | Died of disease |
| Place of death or wounding | Pozieres, France |
| Age at death | 20 |
| Place of burial | Etaples Military Cemetery (Plot XX, Row H, Grave No. 2A), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 74 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Commemorated on Gilles Street Public School Roll of Honor, Adelaide, South Australia. Photo: Peter Dennis. Parents: Ernest and Ellen BERKINSHAW, 223 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 15th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 6 March 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal, 5 April 1916. Found guilty, 12 May 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he when ordered to fall in failed to do so: severely reprimanded. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916. Wounded in action, 9 August 1916 (shell wound, left thigh), admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 10th Stationary Hospital, 10 August 1916; to England, 13 August 1916, and admitted to Guildford War Hospital; transferred to Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital, 19 September 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 12 December 1916. Admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 13 December 1916 (myalgia); transferred to 24th General Hospital, 15 December 1916 (meningitis). Died of disease, 15 December 1916 (cerebro spinal fever). Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BERKINSHAW William Ernest |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
