COPPERTHWAITE, William Charles
| Service Numbers: | 3, V159807 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Citizens Military Forces 5th AIR, 64th Infantry training Bn |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | Land Headquarters South West Pacific Area (SWPA) |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, 6 May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Burnley, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Law Clerk |
| Died: | Illness, 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg), Melbourne, Australia, 18 March 1943, aged 50 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3, 6th Infantry Battalion, Citizens Military Forces 5th AIR, 64th Infantry training Bn | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked 3, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement 3, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Sep 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Warrant Officer, AIF Headquarters (Egypt) | |
| 8 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Warrant Officer Class 1, AIF Headquarters (Egypt) | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Warrant Officer Class 1, AIF Headquarters | |
| 6 Feb 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Warrant Officer Class 1, 3, AIF Headquarters, 3rd MD |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement V159807 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, V159807, Land Headquarters South West Pacific Area (SWPA) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From How We Served
The final resting place for; - 3 & V159807 Lieutenant Colonel William Charles Copperthwaite BEM, MSM of Williamstown, Victoria, who prior to his enlistment for War Service had been employed as a law clerk.
William had previously served with the Citizens Military Forces prior to the outbreak of World War One, and on his enlisting on the 18th of August 1914, he was posted to the 6th Battalion 1st AIF.
With his Battalion, William was embarked for Egypt and further training, departing Melbourne on the 19th of October 1914 with the First Australian Contingent. William’s Battalion would be committed to the Dardanelles Campaign and was landed on Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915 (ANZAC Day).
Due to William’s Pre-War occupation, he was posted to the AIF Records Section based at Alexandria in September and promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class One. Following the Gallipoli campaign, William was retained by the AIF Records Section, with which he was embarked for France, arriving on the 30th of June 1916.
William would serve continuously with his Unit, and for his services he would be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at the start of 1918 and would be further decorated with the Medaille d’Honneur (French).
With the end of the War in November 1918, William would be detached to AIF Headquarters in England for ongoing service in England and would not begin his repatriation to Australia until the 28th of September 1919.
Following his return to Australia, William would continue to serve until he received his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his return to civilian life on the 6th of February 1920.
For his continued and valued service to the 1st AIF, William would be awarded the British Empire Medal, which was officially Gazetted in April 1920.
With the outbreak of a Second World War, William again enlisted for service with the Australian Military Forces on the 20th of December 1939 and was granted the Commissioned rank of Lieutenant.
Originally posted to Army Headquarters 2nd Echelon, again William’s service would be continuous, and by the start of 1940 he had been promoted to Captain.
William would be further promoted to Major, and by the start of 1941, he was made temporary Lieutenant Colonel.
As Officer Commanding 2nd Echelon, William’s service would see him transferred to Land Headquarters at the end of April 1942. and would include him serving with Land Headquarters South West Pacific Area.
William was still serving when he was evacuated to the 115th Australian General Hospital (Heidelberg) due to sickness on the 8th of March 1943.
Whilst still under treatment at this hospital William"s premature death occurred at the age of 50, on the 18th of March 1943.
Following his passing, whilst again in the service of the Australian Military Forces, ‘Great War’ veteran Lieutenant Colonel William Copperthwaite BEM, MSM, was accorded a full military funeral, when he was laid to rest within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.
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