Pte
William Laidly McMullen
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 05/06/1897 |
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Place of birth: Roma, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Station Hand - Farm Hand |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2690A |
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Enlistment date: 04/07/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Roma, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Nieuwemolen, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 27H |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Enlisting at 19 years old, William Laidly McMullen, a signaller, served in the Australian Infantry, 47th Battalion, 12th Brigade, 4th Division. Prior to this he had been a Station Hand in Roma, Queensland.
On 12 October, 1917, the 4th Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele. The task of the Division was to form the right flank in the attack on Passchendaele Ridge, while the 3rd Australian Division and the New Zealand Division formed the left flank. The 4th Division was to attack with two Battalions, the 47th and the 48th. The former was to capture the first objective, and once this was consolidated, the 48th would pass through and consolidate the second objective. Together they had to attack through the hamlet of Nieuwemolen, up the Keiberg Spur, along the Ypres-Roulers railway, and protect the flank of the 3rd Division who was on the left.
At 5.20am, the Division commenced the attack. The advance did not go smoothly due to the muddy ground and the water-filled shell holes. Not long after zero hour, at 5.45am, they had a setback. The headquarters, was shelled by the Germans. This resulted in a high number of casualties. Many signallers and runners lost their lives, which in turn resulted in problems with communication. The 47th Infantry Battalion War Diary states, “Nevertheless, the 47th Battalion managed to reach the Red Line on time, with exception of a portion near Assyria, and the 48th passed through. On their way to the objective, “C” company met some resistance near Decoy Wood. The afternoon was less successful. The War Diary mentions that the German shelling was heavy and accurate, that aeroplanes flew low to shoot down troops, and German snipers and machine gunners were active but could not be located. At 4.10pm, the Germans made their first counter-attack, from the direction of Assyria ridge. At 5.00pm, they began the second counter-attack. At first, these were held off, but due to the withdrawal of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Division, the 47th and 48th Battalion had to abandon their positions. They commenced a gradual withdrawal along the railway and ended up almost back to their original starting lines.
Private William Laidly McMullen of was killed in action on 12 October, 1917. According to a statement in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File made by C. Dickenson, Private McMullen was reported by Corporal Affleck that “McMullen had been killed up at Passchendaele but could not give any particulars. He said he saw him there dead.” He is reported to have been buried 1000 yards south-west of Passchendaele and 1000 yards north-east of Zonnebeke, but his remains have never been identified. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 27H).
On 12 October, 1917, the 4th Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele. The task of the Division was to form the right flank in the attack on Passchendaele Ridge, while the 3rd Australian Division and the New Zealand Division formed the left flank. The 4th Division was to attack with two Battalions, the 47th and the 48th. The former was to capture the first objective, and once this was consolidated, the 48th would pass through and consolidate the second objective. Together they had to attack through the hamlet of Nieuwemolen, up the Keiberg Spur, along the Ypres-Roulers railway, and protect the flank of the 3rd Division who was on the left.
At 5.20am, the Division commenced the attack. The advance did not go smoothly due to the muddy ground and the water-filled shell holes. Not long after zero hour, at 5.45am, they had a setback. The headquarters, was shelled by the Germans. This resulted in a high number of casualties. Many signallers and runners lost their lives, which in turn resulted in problems with communication. The 47th Infantry Battalion War Diary states, “Nevertheless, the 47th Battalion managed to reach the Red Line on time, with exception of a portion near Assyria, and the 48th passed through. On their way to the objective, “C” company met some resistance near Decoy Wood. The afternoon was less successful. The War Diary mentions that the German shelling was heavy and accurate, that aeroplanes flew low to shoot down troops, and German snipers and machine gunners were active but could not be located. At 4.10pm, the Germans made their first counter-attack, from the direction of Assyria ridge. At 5.00pm, they began the second counter-attack. At first, these were held off, but due to the withdrawal of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Division, the 47th and 48th Battalion had to abandon their positions. They commenced a gradual withdrawal along the railway and ended up almost back to their original starting lines.
Private William Laidly McMullen of was killed in action on 12 October, 1917. According to a statement in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File made by C. Dickenson, Private McMullen was reported by Corporal Affleck that “McMullen had been killed up at Passchendaele but could not give any particulars. He said he saw him there dead.” He is reported to have been buried 1000 yards south-west of Passchendaele and 1000 yards north-east of Zonnebeke, but his remains have never been identified. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 27H).
Sources 7
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"Battle scarred : The 47th Battalion in the First World War", Deayton C., Newport, Big Sky Publishing, 2011, pg. 167-187. Sources used |
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"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 113. Sources used |
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AIF-Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10251747 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1599484/mcmullen,-william-laidly/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |