FRENCH, William Loder
| Service Number: | 35 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Deddington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, February 1892 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Deddington Church of England School, England |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Cerebro spinal fever, Council Street (parents home), Deddington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, 10 February 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Deddington (Ss. Peter and Paul) Churchyard St Peter and St Paul Churchyard, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 35, 11th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1914: | Involvement Private, 35, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1914: | Embarked Private, 35, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle |
Help us honour William Loder French's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Suzanne Make
DIED OF ILLNESS CONTRACTED IN GALLIPOLI ~ ~ ~
Private William Loder French, 11th Bn., Australian Infantry, Service number 35, was the son of William Joseph and Emily French of Deddington in Oxfordshire, U.K.
Loder, as he was known, emigrated to Australia in 1913. When war was declared he joined up on 21st August 1914 and found himself in Gallipoli the following year.
The Banbury Advertiser from 17 February 1916 reports the following;-
“He took part in the terrible landings of the ‘Anzac’ on the morning of the 25th. [April 1915] Deceased’s boat was first to reach the shore. Men were falling all around, but they drove the Turks out of the scrub at the point of the bayonet, and for the three following days they lay in their saturated uniforms, existing on sea-soaked biscuits, and being without water.”
Loder survived the ANZAC landings with a “slight wound to the leg,” but the poor conditions were to take their toll on his health. The poor man suffered from diarrhoea, colitis, fever, weakness, anaemia, enteric fever and dysentery. He spent time in and out of hospital and was finally invalided back to Britain to be with his parents. He died on 10 February 1916, aged 25, of cerebrospinal fever at his parents’ home. His records and medical history in the Australian National Archives blame his death on “bad diet and exposure in Gallipoli.”
Loder was buried on Valentines Day 1916, 104 years ago today in the churchyard at Deddington (St. Peter and St. Paul)
He was given full military honours. The newspaper reports that ;-
“The floral tributes were numerous . The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and a firing party and buglers, comprising fifteen Australians from the camp at Abbey Wood, all of whom had served at Gallipoli, paid their last respects to one of their bravest boys by firing the customary volleys and sounding ‘The Last Post.’”
Loder’s original cross hangs on the wall inside the church alongside a further 8 original crosses, four of which have been returned from the battlefields.
Loder’s parents lived in the lane behind the church. You can see the sign for “Hopcraft Lane” in photo 3. They are now buried in the same churchyard.
Loder suffered terribly but I’m glad he died at home with his loved ones. I’ve been over this morning to take these photos and pay my respects to him.
Remember him 🏴 🇦🇺
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
William was born and died in the village of Deddington, Oxfordshire; Woodstock is the registration District.
Births Mar 1892 French William Loder Woodstock 3a 869
Deaths Mar 1916 French William L 24 Woodstock 3a 1300
He was 24/25 and the son of William Joseph and Emily French, of Council St., Deddington.[ Council Street in Deddington is now Hopcraft Lane.]
From 1911 census: Living at 51 Kenilworth Street, Leamington, as a border. Trade given as Butcher’s Apprentice. Parents living at Deddington with son John Maurice and daughters Gladys Emily and Madge.
He previously served 4 years in the Oxford Yeomanry (The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars) He emigrated to Australia in 1913
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 11th Battalion on 21st August 1914, in Western Australia.
His trade was given as butcher.
Embarked on HMT Suffolk to Alexandria to join M.E.F. (Gallipoli campaign), 2nd March 1915. Admitted to 1st ANZAC Casualty Clearing Station, 25th July 1915, with dysentery.
Transferred to Lemnos on HMTS Neuralia on 29th July 1917.
Disembarked Alexandria 4th August.
To 2nd General Australian Hospital, Ghezireh
Invalided to England on 23 September 1915 and admitted to Reading War Hospital, 5th October 1915.
He died at home where he had been convalescing from the illness contracted in Gallipoli.He is remembered on the Deddington War Memorials.
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