CASTLES, William
| Service Number: | 2507 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 May 1916, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rooty Hill, New South Wales, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carter |
| Died: | Died of Illness (Nephritis), At sea (HMAT Suevic), At sea (HMAT Suevic A29), 23 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" At sea - HMAT Suevic , Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Blacktown War Memorial, Katoomba Darug and Gundungurra Aboriginal Soldiers Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 15 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2507, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2507, 54th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2507, 54th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 23 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2507, 54th Infantry Battalion |
William Castles
Private William Castles was an Aboriginal soldier born in Rooty Hill in 1894. His brother was E.G. Castles and their father was Thomas Castles. William and E.G.'s aunt was Darcy Webb. William lived with his aunt prior to refusing to be inoculated after enlisting in 1916.
William's job before his 1st enlistment in 1914 was a labourer. His 2nd job before his 2nd enlistment was a coal carter.
William Castles' 1st enlistment was at Liverpool on the 22nd December 1914 when he was 20, his embarkation details are not available since he was discharged after one month, since he refused to be inoculated. William Castles' 2nd enlistment was at Bathurst on the 15th May 1916, he claimed to be 19 years of age. He embarked from Sydney on the HMAT 'Aeneas' A60 on the 30th November 1916.
William Castles served in World War 1 in the 54th Australian Infantry Battalion on the Western Front after his 2nd enlistment.
Soon, William received gunshot wounds to his arms and legs in the Battle of Bullecourt , France on the 15th May 1917. After being wounded in France in 1917, he was admitted in the 1st Australian General Hospital and was soon evacuated to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital, England.
William Castles died on the 23rd October 1917 while at sea due to Nephritis and his gunshot wounds. He is remembered on the Blacktown Soldiers' Memorial, he is also remembered with honour on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial, Somme, France.
Submitted 30 November 2016 by Cheryl Kersivien
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"...2507 Private William Castles 54th Battalion, of Parramatta, NSW. A carter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 30 November 1916. He was wounded in action on 15 May 1917, near Riencourt on the Hindenberg Line. Pte Castles died of nephritis on 23 October 1917 aboard the HMAT Suevic (A29) while returning to Australia, aged 21. He was buried at sea and is remembered with honour on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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