MACWILLIAM, Alex
| Service Number: | 7349 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria , 1884 |
| Home Town: | Fitzroy, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Diabetes, 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire , 9 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Bulford Church Cemetery, Wiltshire, England Grave 3. I. 4. Personal Inscription TILL THE DAY DAWNS AND SHADOWS FLEE AWAY, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Feb 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 7349, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1917: | Embarked Sergeant, 7349, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Melbourne |
Help us honour Alex MacWilliam's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Alexander Edward McWilliam was born at Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria in 1884 to parents George & Catherine McWilliam.
He married Catherine Mary Smeaton in 1909 in Victoria.
On 13th October, 1914 Alex MacWilliam enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force stating he was a 28 year old, married, Labourer from Young Street, Fitzroy, Victoria.
Private Alex MacWilliam, Service umber 1397, was promoted to the rank of Corporal from 1st December, 1914. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on 5th February, 1915.
He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Clan McGillivray (A46) on 2nd February, 1915 with 14th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements and disembarked at Egypt (no date recorded).
On 18th August, 1915 Lance Sergeant MacWilliam was promoted to Sergeant.
While at Gallipoli, Sergeant MacWilliam had fallen over while carrying a disey (?) of boiling tea. His knee and ankle were scalded. He was admitted to Hospital at Dardanelles on 19th August, 1915. He was dispatched to England - Lewisham Military Hospital on 1st September, 1915 and remained there 5 weeks before being transferred as his foot had not quite healed.
He was admitted to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex, England with a scalded leg on 4th October, 1915 & was discharged on 8th November, 1915.
Sergeant MacWilliam was placed on Supernumerary List at Dardanelles on 1st December, 1915. He embarked on Star of England from Portland, England on 12th December, 1915 & disembarked at Melbourne due to Paralysis of Right arm.
On 3rd February, 1916 Lance Sergeant MacWilliam was admitted to No. 5 Australian General Hospital (Base Hospital) Melbourne, Victoria with a withered arm (wasting of forearm).
A Medical Report was completed on Sergeant Alex MacWilliam on 7th February, 1916 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Disability - Paralysis of Right Extensor Commirris Digitorum. Former Occupation – Horse Driver. Place & date of original disability – About middle February, 1915 Transport Clan McGillivray
Patient fell with R. hand doubled under him, gradually lost power in hand. Went to Gallipoli. Was there 8 weeks. Invalided in August 20th from scalded leg. Fall. Active Service.
Present condition – Patient feels no disability from scald, patient is unable to extend fingers or do any spec work with the hand such as writing &c. Wasting of R. commiris Digitorum, no wrist.
General Recommendation (8th March, 1916) – He has some definite limitation in extensions of the right elbow, in addition to the wasting of the extensor muscles previously noted. He should be investigated thoroughly and x-ray pictures obtained…….
A report by Lt. Col. W. Moore, 8th March, 1916, regarding Sgt. A. MacWilliam reads in part: “Captain Williams informs me that he saw McWilliam lighting a cigarette and using his fingers freely. I had him anaesthetized and while going under the anaesthetic he extended his fingers and hand fully. …..The wasting of the extensor muscles is no doubt due to the voluntarily refraining from using them. I am quite satisfied he is malingering.”
Sergeant Alex MacWilliam requested a discharge from the Australian Imperial Force, dated 29th July, 1916. He was discharged from No. 5 Australian General Hospital & was medically unfit for Active Service, dated 29th July, 1916.
Lance Sergeant Alexander MacWilliam had served 681 days with A.I.F.
On 4th October, 1916 Alex MacWilliam re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 33 year old, married, Labourer from Fitzroy, Victoria. His Attestation Papers stated his occupation as “Soldier”.
Sergeant Alexander MacWilliam, Service number 7349, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ballarat (A70) on 19th February, 1917 with the 5th Infantry Battalion, 24th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 26th April, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 26th April, 1917 Sergeant MacWilliam was marched in to 2nd Training Battalion from Australia.
Sergeant Alex MacWilliam died at 6.30 p.m. on 9th May, 1917 at 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire from Diabetes.
He was buried in Bulford Church Cemetery, Wiltshire, England where 14 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/bulford---wiltshire.html
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