HEITHERSAY, William Stocks
| Service Number: | 15934 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 June 1916, Enlisted in Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | Petersburg, South Australia, 27 February 1891 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Unley Public School, Adelaide School of Mines, Adelaide High School & Adelaide University |
| Occupation: | Electrical Fitter |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, France, 1 September 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France Plot IV, Row F, Grave no. 7 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Great War Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Norwood War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 15934, 5th Divisional Signal Company, Enlisted in Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 15934, 5th Divisional Signal Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 15934, 5th Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Involvement Sapper, 15934, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 15934 awm_unit: 2nd Australian Division Signals Company awm_rank: Sapper awm_died_date: 1918-09-01 | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Wounded Sapper, 15934, 5th Divisional Signal Company, Wounded in action by gunshot wounds to left leg & forearm - died of these wounds in 53rd Casualty Clearing Station same day |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
William Stocks HEITHERSAY was born on 27th February, 1891 in Petersburg, South Australia
His parents were John HEITHERSAY who was born in London and Selina BLEECHMORE who was born in South Australia - they married in 1884 in the Wesleyan Parsonage, Auburn, SA - 10 known children
William had previous service for 1 year in the 6th Field Engineers before he enlisted in Adelaide on 6th June, 1916 - he embarked with the 5th Divisional Signal Company, 5th reinforcements on 25th October, 1916 on the ship Ulysses from Melbourne
He was a Private in E Coy, 2nd Depot on 6th June 1916, 19/10 Infantry from 1st July, 1916 to 15th October, 1916 & 7/5 Divisional Signal Coy on 16th October,1916 - he transferred to the Australian Corps, Signal on 1st March, 1918
He was wounded in action with gunshot wounds to left leg & forearm on 1st September, 1918 and died from those wounds at the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station in France - he is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension in France and also memorialised on the Australian War Memorial - he was awarded the British War Medal & the Victory Medal.
His brother 2nd Lieut Austin James HEITHERSAY (SN275) 9th Light Horse Regiment also died of wounds on 12th January, 1917.
Two more brothers - Frank Sinclair HEITHERSAY (SN5905) Light Horse Brigade, returned to Australia in 1915 & Edgar Stocks HEITHERSAY (SN276) 9th Light Horse Regiment , returned to Australia in 1917
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Trove article - Petersburg Times, Friday 27th September, 1918
FOR KING & COUNTRY
Late Sapper W. S. HEITHERSAY
Sapper William Stocks Heithersay 2nd ( late 5th) Divisional Signal Company, Australian Imperail Force who died from gunshot wounds in the left leg and forearm at the 53rd casualty clearing station on Sept. 1 was the thrid son of Mr. & Mrs. John Heithersay of the Broadway, Glenelg. He was educated at the Unley State School where he had a meritorious scholastic record having won in 1904 a Government Bursay for 3 years in the Pupil Teachers School. During two ears of the above term he passed the junior University exam in seven subject with two credits and then resigned to pursue the electiral engineering course at the Adelaide School of Mines which he completed with distinction.. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs Ellis & Clark as an electrical engineer and in 1912 joined the staff of Messrs Gerard & Goodman Ltd, Electricians in Adelaide with whom he remained until he enlisted for active service. He was recognised as a skilled and careful engineer and was universally popular by reason of his unassuming and lovable nature. The deceased soldier was a splendid type of manhood.
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