MCLEOD, William Edward
| Service Number: | 3121 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rockdale, New South Wales , Australia, 13 July 1887 |
| Home Town: | Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Rockdale Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrical Mechanic, Sydney Tramways |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3121, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 3121, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3121, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3121 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
Help us honour William Edward McLeod's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His younger brother 3273 Private Hector John McLeod 55th Battalion AIF was also killed in action at Fromelles 20 July, 1916. Age 20.
William was also born in Rockdale NSW, and was an electrical mechanic, working with the NSW tramways, and embarked with the same unit as his younger brother, the 17th Battalion, 7th reinforcements, transferring to the 53rd Battalion in April 1916. He was promoted Corporal in May 1916, and reported missing on 19 July 1916.
It took until September 1917 for him to be confirmed killed 19-7-1916. The fact that it took 15 months to confirm his death caused the mother much angst, and especially regarding collecting his back pay from the tramways and his life insurance. He was 29 years old at the time of his death
Biography contributed by John Oakes
William Edward Sydney McLEOD was born on 13th June 1887 at Rockdale in Sydney. He joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways on 18th May 1906 as a cleaner of Electric Trams based at Newtown Tram Depot in Sydney. He held this position until 1st September 1908 when he became a labourer, still based at Newtown Tram Depot. On 20th October 1909 he transferred to Waverley Tram Depot as a pitman’s assistant. Two weeks later, on 5th November 1909, he moved to Rushcutters Bay Tram Depot, also as a pitman’s assistant. On 6th January 1911 he took up duties as a controllerman at Rozelle, transferring to Ultimo on 16th October 1911 with the same job. On 20th January 1913 he became a pitman based at Sydney. On 12th August 1915 he was granted leave to join the AIF.
He joined the AIF with the rank of Private (Service Number 3121) and was initially posted to the 7th Reinforcements to the 17th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, John McLeod of Hurlstone Park, NSW, as his next of kin.
William embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A29 ‘Suevic’ at Sydney on 23rd December 1915. In Egypt he was transferred and taken on strength of the 53rd Infantry Battalion on 5th April 1916. On 8th May 1916 he was appointed to the rank of Corporal. On 19th June 1916 he left Egypt for France and the Western Front.
On 19th July 1916 he was reported as being missing in action at Fromelles near Fleurbaix in France, but it was not until September 1917 that a Court of Enquiry confirmed that he had been killed in action on 19th July 1916.
The site of William’s grave is unknown, and he is commemorated at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association is Hurlstone Park, Sydney, NSW.
William’s younger brother, Hector John McLeod (Service Number 3273) of the 55th Infantry Battalion, who also worked for the NSWGR&T, was killed in action in the same area the next day.
Following the loss of the two brothers their father was granted a pension of £2 per fortnight with effect from 29th October 1916, and this was increased to £2 and 12 shillings per fortnight from 2nd November 1916.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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