COLVIN, William Cargill
| Service Number: | 3026 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 18 September 1898 |
| Home Town: | Haberfield, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Five Dock, New South Wales, Australia, 23 June 1970, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3026, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3026, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3026, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 19 Oct 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
Help us honour William Cargill Colvin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Tafshi Rahman
Born in Sydney, New South Wales Australia on 18th of September 1898, William Cargill Colvin had resided in Haberfield New South Wales (1) and lived with his father Mr. James Colvin (2) and mother Mrs. Glandys Goodsir (3). He attended Sydney Technical High School during the 1910s where he developed a strong foundation in technical subjects (4). After he finished school he proceeded to become a Civil Engineer from 1914-1915 as he had the skills and the knowledge necessary to pursue a successful career in engineering (5). Colvin's strong endeavor to education and his early interest in engineering allowed him to execute vital contributions to public infrastructure. Colvin then enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on August 24, 1915 (6).
Colvin’s sense of duty and patriotism was evident when he enlisted in the AIF in August 1915. When he had enlisted, he took an oath, proudly stating “I, William Cargill Colvin…swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War… SO HELP ME GOD.”(7) He boarded the HMAT Wardilla on the 8th of October 1915. Colvin served as a Private in the 3rd Infantry Battalion.
He proceeded to France in June 1916 from Tel el Kabir and served in Freance until he took leave to England in December. While on leave he became ill and was hospitalised at King George Hospital until February 1917 when he returned to his unit in France. Soon after he spent more time in hospital from early April due to an accidental injury to his left eye. He was transferred to hospital in England. He moved to the 1st Australian Auxillary Hospital at Harefield to fully recover. Then he was moved to the Australian Flying Corps in London in October 1917. He served with the AFC for the remainder of the war and graduated as a flying officer (pilot) 19th July 1918 and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on the same day
He returned to Australia embarking 23rd July 1919 on the HT Canberra and arrived safely back in Australia in August 1919. Colvin was discharged 16th November 1919.
After returning from the war, Colvin resumed his career as a civil engineer, making significant contributions to infrastructure development in New South Wales (10). His contributions in this field were distinguished by technical expertise and a commitment to improving public works. Colvin married Lucy Goff, and they had a son called William James Colvin in 1924. James Colvin later married Bernice Olive (11). William Cargill Colvin died on June 23, 1970, at Five Dock, New South Wales, leaving behind a legacy of service and professional excellence (12).
References-
1. Virtual war memorial details, VWMA
2. UNSW AIF information, the AIF project 2024
3. Google drive with photo of enlistment confirmation to Mrs. Goodsir.
4. From google drive result sheets 1912 and 1913.
5.UNSW AIF, the AIF project 2024
6. Ibid
7. Memories Timeline, Australian War Stores
8. Ibid
9. Virtual war memorial, VWMA
10. Ibid
11. Ancestry Website
12. Virtual war memorial details, VWMA
13. Ibid
14. Ibid
15. Australian cemetery index
16. Memories Timeline, Australian War Stories
Click images to start slideshow.