GRAINGER, William Paterson
| Service Number: | 2587 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 47th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 9 April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Kensington State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mining engineer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 7 June 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2587, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2587, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2587, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 20 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 47th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement 2587, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2587 awm_unit: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Company Sergeant Major awm_died_date: 1917-06-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Paterson Grainger was one of three sons of John and Mary Grainger of Ascot Vale in Melbourne who served during WW1.
His younger brother, 1068 Gunner James Henry Grainger 4th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade was killed in action near Lagnicourt on 10 April 1917, aged 21.
William enlisted in Queensland and was posted to the 47th Battalion AIF in Egypt during 1916. He was promoted to Company Sergeant Major only weeks later. He was badly wounded at Pozieres on 8 August 1916 and was evacuated to England. He eventually rejoined the 47th Battalion at the front a month before he was killed in action at Messines on 7 June 1917.
He was seen by a number of men to have been killed instantly by a high explosive shell. His service file gives a very precise burial location, “In a shell hole 20 yards south west of Septieme Barn Farm in front of Uncanny Trench three quarters of a mile east of Messines.” The witnesses to his death stated he had a well-marked with a cross. However, his remains were lost, due to the heavy shelling in the area.
Another brother, 1192 Corporal John Grainger 21st Field Artillery Brigade, also enlisted during August 1914 and returned to Australia during November 1919, having served for over five years.
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