The AIF Project

William WASS

Regimental number239
Place of birthDerbyshire, England
SchoolAmbaston Church School, England
Age on arrival in Australia27
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFitter
AddressSecond Street, Pelaw Main, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation31
Height5' 5"
Weight134 lbs
Next of kinFather, G. Wass, Anderston, near Derby, England
Previous military serviceServed in South African War (Sherwood Foresters).; 3 years in Hong Kong; 1 year China; 1.5 years Singapore; 4 years in Army Reserve.
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Place of enlistmentRandwick, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentSignaller Corporal
Unit name2nd Battalion, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board TRANSPORT A23 Suffolk on 18 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Fourth Supplement No. 29664 (11 July 1916); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 176 (30 November 1916).

Other details from Roll of Honour CircularHe also served in China and India with the Sherwood Foresters.
FateKilled in Action 19-20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFrance
Age at death35
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
160
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Promoted Sergeant to date from 8 April 1915.

Wounded in action, 8 August 1915 (gun shot wound, head); admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 9 August 1915; transferred to Mudros, 11 August 1915, and thence to St George's Hospital, Malta, 16 August 1915; to St Patrick's Hospital, Malta, 21 August 1915; to England, 18 September 1915, and admitted to King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London SE, 24 September 1915.

Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from Weymouth (date not stated); rejoined Bn, Tel el Kebir, 20 February 1916.

Transferred to 54th Bn, 22 February 1916.

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. Wass, W.. 54. ... Nr. 4299. am 19.7.16. in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'

Red Cross File No 2861108: 'Identity disc received from Germany and despatched to N/K. 11.5.17.'

'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4.11.16.'

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WASS William
Red Cross file 2861108

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