HUNTLEY, William Edgar
| Service Number: | 240 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glamorganshire, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, April 1871 |
| Home Town: | Wallsend, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Newington College |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Islington, New South Wales, Australia, 25 November 1938, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CONGREGATIONAL-4CSW. 41. |
| Memorials: | Hamilton War Memorial, Wallsend Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 240, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 240, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 240, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 17 May 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 240, 17th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD, medically unfit due to wounding (Pozieres) |
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William signed up on 1/03/1915. He was 44 years old and had a wife and young family and as such was not expected to volunteer. While he had a recieved a privileged education his social values were in keeping with the working class and he was a strong supporter of the unions. He saw action in Gallipolli and France during the First World War. He was promoted to the rank of sergent on 25/12/15. He was seriously injured on 31 July 1916 at Poziers. He had been at the front from 26th of July and had been subject to heavy bombardment. He recieved serious shrapnel wounds to his abdomen. He was found by stretcher bearers walking back from the front despite his injuries. He was shell shocked as well. The triage staff were surprised that he had been brought in at all and did not have much hope but on the advice that he had managed to walk a large part of the way back himself they decided to operate. He survived the operation and was sent to Lord Derby Hospital in Warrington on 16/8/1916 to recover. His injuries left him incapacitated and he was sent back to Australia on 13/2/1917. He was discharged on 15/5/17 and told to go home and spend his remaining time with his family. They did not expect him to live for very long but despite his injuries he lived for another twenty one years.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
85 years ago today, on the Saturday afternoon of the 26th November 1938, Sergeant William Edgar Huntley, 17th Battalion (Reg No-240), salesman from Robert Street, Wallsend, (Plattsburg) New South Wales and 31 Hubbard Street, Islington, N.S.W., father of seven, was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 67. CONGREGATIONAL-4CSW. 41.
Born at Glamorganshire, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom about April 1871 to Thomas and Helen? or Ellen? Huntley or Annie Blanche Australia Huntley nee Davies; husband of Anne (Annie) Huntley nee Lewis (married 1899, Balmain South, N.S.W., died 28.1.1960, Islington, N.S.W., sleeping here), William enlisted on the 1st March 1915 at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board Transport A32 Themistocles on the 12th May 1915.
Admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance 17.4.1916 (diarrhoea).
Wounded in action - 31.7.1916 (SW left abdomen, severe, shell shock, Battle of Pozières).
Transferred to England 15.8.1916.
Commenced return to Australia 13.2.1917.
William arrived home on the 14th April 1917, being discharged medically unfit on the 15th May 1917.
Mr. Huntley’s name has been inscribed on the Wallsend (Wallsend Park) Soldiers' Memorial, Wallsend Municipal & District Roll of Honor, Wallsend (Federal Park) War Memorial, Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
I have placed poppies at William’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Service record states Died after Discharge, 25-11-1938.
Officially commemorated 9.1.1939 – https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html...
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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