SUTHERLAND, William
| Service Number: | 785 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bermagui, New South Wales, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Dignams Creek, Bega Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gallipoli, 21 August 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Cobargo & District Soldiers War Memorial, Cobargo Dignam's Creek Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 785, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 785, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 785, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 21 Aug 1915: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 13 Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1915-08-21 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Second Lieutenant William Sutherland 13th Battalion was killed in action 21st August, 1915, aged 27. He died during an ill-fated attack near the Hill 60 position at the northern end of Anzac. His father lived at Dignams Creek via Bega, New South Wales, and from letters was most deeply saddened by the loss of his son.
The Cobargo Chronicle reported in October 1915, “Only a day or two ago word was received here that one young man in the full vigor of early manhood, a native of this shire, had given his life for his God and his country, and who by heroic gallantry and good conduct was raised from the ranks to the proud and honorable position of Lieutenant on the battlefield. (W. Sutherland, of Dignams Ck.), whose name will be honored by future generations in this district as a hero.”
The Bega Newspaper reported,
Mr. A. Sutherland, of Dignams Creek, father of Lieut. Sutherland, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles, in acknowledging Archdeacon Mell’s letter covering the telegram conveying the intelligence of the young hero's death, expresses a lofty patriotic sentiment which is altogether admirable. He says, in mentioning his very natural desire to know the I fate of his son; - “Not that I begrudge my son to the Empire, but, hard as it is to bear, I will now rest more content, and if I had more sons at home I would gladly say ‘go,’ because they would only be doing their duty.”
William’s younger brother, 61 Driver James Alisine Sutherland 1st Battalion AIF, an original member of the unit, was killed in action when struck by a shell at Hell Fire Corner on the Menin Road in Belgium, 18th September 1917, aged 25.
A third and younger brother 2723 Private Robert Bruce Sutherland 45th Battalion AIF, enlisted at 17 years of age and was twice wounded, before he was sent home April 1919.
It was reported that two other sons also offered, but were rejected, one having only one arm.
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