The AIF Project

Walter PHEASANT

Regimental number2462
Place of birthLondon, England
SchoolLondon County Council School, London, England
Other trainingFarming
Age on arrival in Australia17
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCook
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8"
Weight123 lbs
Next of kinSister, Miss Ethel Pheasant, 4 Barry Avenue, Stamford Hill, London, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date28 May 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 14 July 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row B, Grave No 11), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined 2nd Bn, Gallipoli, 31 October 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 28 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Found guilty, 201 February 1916, of overstaying leave from 9.20 pm, to 9.30 pm, 21 February 1916: forfeited 2 days' pay.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Killed in action, 19-20 July 1916.

Note on file: 'austr. Sold. Phesant, (Pheasant), W. Erk.Mrk. 3462, 54. Bn. am 19.7 in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'

Red Cross File No 2140813: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

'Identity disc received from Germany and despatched to N/K. 11.5.17.'

Statement, 4835 Pte McDONALD, 54th Bn (patient, HS 'Western Australia', Boulogne), 21 August 1916: 'I saw this man wounded severely through the neck and the bullet struck my rifle and me. He died almost directly and he was left in the 3rd line of German trenches at the right of Fleurbaix. We had to retire to the German first line. This was in the morning of the 19th July, and I was wounded shortly after.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Miscellaneous detailsSister's address subsequently 15 Trellis Street, Malmesbury Road, Bow, London, England
SourcesNAA: B2455, PHEASANT Walter
Red Cross file 2140813

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