Informationen zu Geburt

Allgemeine Informationen

Beruf:
Fuhrmann
Religion:
Church of England

Informationen zum Armeedienst

Land:
Australia
Truppe:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Private
Dienstnummer:
3005/A
Einberufung datum:
31/01/1916
Einberufung ort:
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Einheiten:
 —  Australian Infantry, 31st Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Informationen zu Tod

Sterbedatum:
24/10/1917
Sterbeort:
Romulus Wood, Belgien
Todesursache:
Im Kampf gefallen
Alter:
27

Begräbnisplatz

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Grabstelle: XXIV
Reihe: B
Grab: 13

Auszeichnungen und Orden 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Punkte von Interesse 2

#1 Geburtsort
#2 Einberufung ort

Meine Geschichte

Private William Wheldon served in the Australian Infantry 31st Battalion, part of the 8th Australian Brigade, of the 5th Australian Division. In January 1916 William enlisted in Brisbane, QLD wit the Australian Imperial Forces.
Abord S.S. Waimana, (White Star Line), with his older brother, Albert (age 27), William Wheldon (age 22) emigrated to Australia. They departed Liverpool on 16 July 1912, arriving in Sydney on 29 August 1912. Both were listed as farmers. Born and brought up on the family farm, the brothers had decided to seek a better life and worked on a farm north of Sydney.
On the 21st of October 1917 the 31st Battalion occupied a part of the frontline, east of Zonnebeke on the Broodseinde Ridge. In anticipation of the Second Battle of Passchendaele, from the 26th of October 1917 till the 10th of November 1917, the Battalion started sending out patrols to reconnoiter the German positions at night. German artillery was active throughout the daylight on the 23rd of October 1917, shelling the frontline and support line.
During the night of the 23rd and 24th of October the Battalion sent out patrols trying to locate occupied posts, but no Germans could be found. The German artillery was active throughout the day and the following day. Especially the front line and support lines on the left sector were heavily shelled. Around 5.30 p.m. the German artillery reopened fire on the 31st Battalion’s front- and support lines on the Broodseinde Ridge, in reply to an allied barrage. The shelling was incessant for over two hours, when the fire gradually eased down to occasional shells during the night.
Private William Wheldon was killed in action on the 24th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Romulus Wood. His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.

Dateien 1

Quellen 6

AIF-project
Verwendete Quellen
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10571169
Verwendete Quellen
CWGC
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480491/WHELDON,%20W
Verwendete Quellen
National Archives of Australia
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx
Verwendete Quellen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Verwendete Quellen
War Diary Australian Infantry 31st Bn.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583
Verwendete Quellen