SMALL, William Clarence
| Service Number: | 2988 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Carrathool, New South Wales, Australia, 24 February 1895 |
| Home Town: | Ardath, Bruce Rock, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Narrandera Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Dernancourt, France, 5 April 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Bruce Rock Memorial of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2988, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2988, 48th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Fremantle aboard HMAT Argyllshire | |
| 5 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2988, 48th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Clarence Small was the son of William and Emily Small, of Ardath, Western Australia. He was born at Carathool, New South Wales.
William arrived in England in January 1917 and after trouble with mumps, he joined the 48th Battalion in the field during June 1917.
At Nonne Bosschen near Westhoek on the night of 30 September 1917 he showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went out under heavy artillery fire and collected a number of wounded of the 10th Battalion who had been hit carrying out a relief. He showed great coolness and absolute disregard for his personal safety. Recommended by Lieutenant Colonel R.L. Leane, Battalion C.O. He was awarded a Military Medal.
He died during the heavy fighting at Dernancourt on 5 April 1918, the 48th Battalion being one of several battalions that put up a heroic resistance to a very strong German attack.
The Bruce Rock Post printed an article Friday 24 January 1919.
The Death of Pte. Small.
“Some time ago we had to record the death of Pte. W. C. Small of Ardath, who, it will be remembered, was awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire. The soldier's mother, Mrs Small, has received the following letter from a soldier named J. Reed. England, 28/9/18 Mrs Small, Dear Madam — I received a letter from you to-day saying you would like to hear how and where your boy Willie was killed. He was killed with three of his mates, they were sitting in a trench together and a shell burst in their midst killing the four of them instantly. I did not see it happen but as he was a mate of mine l was anxious to find out how be met his death and this is what I was told by boys who were a few yards away when it happened. They say that none of them moved or spoke after they were hit. I think that all of our killed on that occasion were buried at Henencourt Wood in the Military Cemetery. I am sincerely sorry to have to give you such sad information; it there is anything else that you would like to know I will do my best to find out for you if you will write. I'm sincerely sorry for you in your great loss and I trust you will cheer up and remember that you lost as brave a boy as we had in the battalion. — I remain, yours faithfully, Jack Reed.
The mother of this brave boy has also received another letter from a soldier at the front concerning the manner of his death. The district generally regrets the loss of such a one. Mrs Small has the Military Medal which was awarded to but never worn by her son."
(The Jack Reed who sent the letter was probably 3207 Pte. Albert John Llewellyn Reed 48th Battalion who was from the same area as Small, near Bruce Rock, Western Australia.)
1876 Private William Arthur O'Brien, 3020A Pte. Alexander Patrick Nolan and 3327 Corporal Tom Worthley Whitaker, all of the 48th Australian Infantry Battalion, were stated in Small’s Red Cross wounded and missing file to have been killed by the same shell. One soldier said the four were carrying a wounded man when the shell exploded in their midst, leaving no remains to bury. None of the four have known graves.