BIRD, William Joseph
| Service Number: | 5128 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 December 1915, Casula, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Surrey Hills, NSW, 10 November 1883 |
| Home Town: | Cumnock, Cabonne, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Overseer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Menin Road, Ypres, Belgium, 20 September 1917, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mendooran Memorial Wall, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5128, 20th Infantry Battalion, Casula, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 5128, 20th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 5128, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ajana, Sydney |
Help us honour William Joseph Bird's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Frederick and Sarah BIRD
William's parents had both died by the time he was about 9 years old and he was adopted by his Aunt Jane MASON - Fredrick's older sister.
The Molong Argus – 26 October 1917, p4:
“Quite a gloom was cast over the town on Saturday last, when word was received that another brave young soldier had met his death in the person of Private W Bird, who was killed in action Sep 20th.
Billy, who enlisted about 20 months ago, was well and favourably known locally. He resided in the Yeoval district for a number of years. With his many friends in the Cumnock/Yeoval district we desire to express deep regret at the passing of our friend, Pte Billy Bird, who was a real genuine and upright man. He was an esteemed correspondent of the ‘Argus’ for some time. He died nobly fighting for King and country – Ed.”
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