ATWILL, William
| Service Numbers: | 1407, 1507 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cardiff, Glamorganshire, South Wales, United Kingdom, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1407, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1407, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Sydney | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1507, Light Trench Mortar Battery | |
| Date unknown: | Honoured Military Medal |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
It is believed he was William Arthur Atwill, born in 1879 in Cardiff, South Wales.
Births Dec 1879 Atwill William Arthur Cardiff 11a 257.
He emigrated from the UK to Australia prior to the outbreak of World War 1 to try his hand at gold-mining. He took two of his brothers with him – Percy and Thomas. All three joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force at the beginning of war in 1914 and were shipped out to the Dardanelles. William service number 1507, served with the Light Trench Mortar Battery and 3rd Reinforcements, 13th Battalion and survived the war. William won the Military Medal.
The family were living at Upland Cottage, Dousland in 1911.
His parents, Thomas and Sarah Helen Atwill were married in Canada (she was American but had been given British citizenship). They had a total of nine children. Three of William's brothers fell, Thomas and Percy with Australian forces and 57203 Private Leslie Hyde Atwill who was only eight when his brothers decided to go to Australia to search for gold. He joined the 1/7 Army Cycle Corps attached to the Welsh Regiment. Apparently he suffered from asthma and should never have been drafted into the army. He was wounded and died of pneumonia in hospital on 30 January 1917, aged 24. He is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
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