Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was the son of John and Emma Jane Gordon of Sharon, Bundaberg, Queensland. His younger brother, 376 Pte. David Gordon 25th Battalion AIF was killed in action on 10 June 1916, at 20 years of age.

William joined the 15th Battalion only a few days before Christmas 1916 during the winter. At Gueudecourt on the Somme during February 1917, the Australians faced the harshest winter weather: “driving bitter winds, snow-frozen ground, and sharp frosts”

On 1 February, near Gueudecourt, the 15th Battalion attacked a section of the German front line known as Stormy Trench. The party consisted of 150 men and six officers, or one and half companies. The attack started at about 7.00 p.m. on a frontage of 500 metres. Although the enemy trenches were only 100 metres from the Australian lines, inadequate artillery support and poor overall planning caused the attack to fail. A German counter attack at 11 p.m. was beaten off. In the face of relentless German shelling of the captured trenches, and a stronger German counter attack at 4.30 a.m. the Battalion was forced to retire. Although 52 German soldiers were captured, the 15th Battalion’s casualties were 33 men killed, 20 captured by the Germans and over 80 wounded.

William was one of the casualties and there is no record of his fate, nor does he have a known grave.

The Bundaberg Mail

THE ROLL OF HONOUR

“Recently Rev. D. Galloway was entrusted with the painful duty of breaking the sad tidings to Mr. and Mrs. John Gordon, of Sharon that their fine young son, Private David Gordon, 19 years of age, had been killed in action in France. Last evening, the Rev. Mr. Galloway was again called upon to journey out to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon and tell them that their oldest son, Private William George Gordon, 22 years, of age, was killed in action in France – on the 1st February last, prior to enlisting in January 1916, Private William Gordon was employed as a Clerk in the Railway Office, where he was highly esteemed by the whole of the staff. He was attached to the l5th Battalion, and had been in France some months, before receiving his fatal wounds. The sincere sympathy of' the Bundaberg and. district community will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon. In their hour of grief caused by the loss of their two gallant sons and brothers. Willie and Dave Gordon were two of the finest, jovial dispositioned young men to be met in the district. They were extremely popular amongst a large circle of friends, who admired them for their many manly qualities. They now sleep their last long sleep on the battlefields of France, for their country called and they obeyed. The sad news will be read with feelings of the utmost regret this morning, and the hand of sympathy will go out to their heartbroken family in their double bereavement.”