HEPPLE, William Edward
| Service Number: | 2322 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1916, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lambton, New South Wales, Australia , 25 June 1898 |
| Home Town: | Lambton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker's assistant, Steam Tram Motor (locomotive) cleaner. |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 1 October 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No.3 Plot II, Row K, Grave No. 8 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Newcastle District Tramways Roll of Honor, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Lambton Fallen Soldiers HR |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2322, Newcastle, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2322, 34th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2322, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2322, 34th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood, GSW (multiple) |
Help us honour William Edward Hepple's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
105 years ago today, on the 1st October 1917, Private William Edward Hepple, 34th Battalion (Reg No-2322), boilermaker's assistant (Newcastle Tramways Department), from High Street, Lambton, New South Wales, Died of Wounds during the Battle of Polygon Wood, Passchendaele Campaign, age 19 years 3 months.
Born at High Street, Lambton, New South Wales on the 25th June 1898 to William (died 28.11.1936) and Sarah Anne Hepple nee George (died 17.8.1950, ashes Beresfield Crematorium) of 29 Georgetown Road, Waratah, New South Wales, Will enlisted May 1916 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Discharged medically unfit, 29.5.1916.
Reenlisted-17.8.1916, Newcastle, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 25.4.1917 (hernia), 9.8.1917 (pains post operation, hernia).
Wounded in action - 1.10.1917 (taken to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance and 2nd ANZAC Chief Medical Dressing Station, multiple GSW).
Mr. Hepple’s name has been inscribed on the Abermain Public School Honor Roll, Lambton Post Office Roll of Honor, also known as the Lambton Ladies Anzac Club Roll of Honor, Lambton Park Citizens' Memorial Gates, Waratah Park Memorial Gates, Newcastle District Tramway Employees Roll of Honour (photos, unveiled on the 30th September 1916, 48 names originally inscribed, 70 names now inscribed, 6 Fallen (not complete), located at the corner of Dension Street and Gordon Avenue, Hamilton, N.S.W.) and the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919. Name would be inscribed on the Weston Public School Roll of Honour (whereabouts unknown).
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on the family headstone to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross, so I have poppies at the gravesite in remembrance of Will’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. METHODIST 4-07. 31.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
William Edward HEPPLE (Service Number 2322) was born on 25th June 1898 at Lambton, NSW.. He commenced working for the NSW Tramways as a steam tram motor (locomotive) cleaner with the Traffic Branch in Newcastle in December 1914. In May 1915 his employment changed to shop boy.
Hepple tried to enlist in April 1916, but he was rejected as his chest measurement was too small, and he was still 17-years-old, although his parents did consent to that enlistment. The examining medical officer’s opinion was that the ‘disability’ precluding his enlistment would pass as he ‘would probably develop’ – he would grow up.
He was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 20th August 1916, though he had already enlisted a week before at Newcastle. He gave his father as his next of kin and claimed four years’ experience with the cadets and was currently serving with the Militia. He was just 18 years and four months old.
Hepple left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Borda’ on 17th October 1916 and reached Plymouth on 9th January 1917. In April he had a period in hospital with hernia and did not go to France until June. He was taken on the strength of the 34th Battalion in July. In September he was again hospitalised with pains related to his earlier operation. On 1st October he suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died the same day at the 2nd Anzac Chief Medical Dressing Station, Belgium.
He was buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3, two miles E of Poperinghe, Belgium.
The Australian War Memorial shows Hepple as being 26 when he was killed. In fact, he was just 19.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Click images to start slideshow.