Regimental number | 690 |
Place of birth | Bendigo Victoria |
Other Names | SPEECHLEY, Wm Geo |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Miner |
Address | Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, Bendigo, Victoria |
Marital status | Married |
Age at embarkation | 23 |
Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Eva Speechley, Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, Long Gully, Bendigo, Victoria |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 22nd Battalion, C Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/39/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 22nd Battalion |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | *Given name William George |
Medals |
Distinguished Conduct Medal 'During the operations of 7-9 October, 1918, in the advance from Geneve to Busigny, he guided two companies to the assembly point under difficult conditions and heavy fire. During the attack he was, by his gallant leadership, directly responsible for the killing and capturing of a number of the enemy with their machine guns.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 35 Date: Military Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on VILLE-SUR-ANCRE near ALBERT on the morning of 19th, May, 1918. This N.C.O. was in charge of a Platoon during the attack, and showed great judgment and initiative in getting his men forward. In one place the platoon was held up by a nest of three Machine Guns. SPEECHLEY organised the Platoon for the attack, enveloped their flank, and captured the guns with only slight casualties to his men. On arriving on the objective he found that his platoon had suffered many casualties, but his determination was so great and his cheerfulness so infective that his men were enabled, mainly owing to his personality, to complete the task allotted to them.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23 Date: |