Informations sur naissance

Année de naissance:
1890
Lieu de naissance:
West Auckland, Durham, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Informations générales

Profession:
Transporteur
Religion:
Church of England

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Australia
Force armée:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Private
Numéro de service:
3005/A
Incorporation date:
31/01/1916
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Unités:
 —  Australian Infantry, 31st Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
24/10/1917
Lieu de décès:
Romulus Wood, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
27

Cimetière

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Parcelle: XXIV
Rangée: B
Tombe: 13

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 2

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

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.

Fichiers 1

Sources 6

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