The AIF Project

William Thompson SERJEANT

Regimental number7605
Place of birthCollingwood Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressWest Brunswick, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation38
Next of kinWife, Mrs C B Serjeant, 65 Munro Street, West Brunswick, Victoria
Enlistment date13 July 1917
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 25th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 21 March 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near ASCENSION WOOD on 18th September 1918. After passing the RED LINE the Battalion came under heavy machine gun fire. As it was difficult to locate the positions of enemy guns this man crawled forward under heavy fire. From his new position he was able to locate the guns and from his information Lewis Guns were able to engage the enemy guns thus allowing the advance to continue. Again in a later stage of the advance he, as No. 2 of a Lewis Gun engaged an enemy machine gun, at 50 yards, which was enfilading a trench and preventing a bombing party from going forward, and eventually silenced it. His work throughout the whole enterprise was marked for its skill, coolness and resourcefulness, while his personal bravery was beyond all praise.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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