William Gordon COLLIVER

William Gordon COLLIVER Update Details

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COLLIVER, William Gordon

Service Number:	2585
Enlisted:	11 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank:	Lieutenant
Last Unit:	43rd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Norwood, South Australia, 15 September 1895
Home Town:	Parkside, Unley, South Australia
Schooling:	Norwood High School
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Killed In Action, Peronne, France, 1 September 1918, aged 22 years
Cemetery:	Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Coonalpyn Honour Roll, Coonalpyn Soldiers Memorial Park Gates, Coonalpyn War Memorial, Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Parkside Epworth Uniting Church Honour Roll, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board

World War 1 Service

11 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia
25 Mar 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2585, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: ''
25 Mar 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2585, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide
1 Sep 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-09-01
Date unknown:	Wounded 2585, 43rd Infantry Battalion

Obituary

The Advertiser Wednesday 18 September 1918 page 9

Lieutenant W,G. GORDON COLLIVER, who was killed in action on September 1, was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Colliver, of Parkside. He enlisted on August 14, 1915 and left Australia on March 24, 1916, with the 32nd Battalion. He arrived in England on June 16. After special study he entered for an examination in machine gunnery and was the only one out of 50 non-commissioned officers to be classed as 'distinguished'. On reaching France he accepted a transfer to the 43rd Battalion, in which his brother Eustice was then Lieutenant. Here his splendid knowledge of machine guns, particularly the Lewis gun, was used, and he received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant. On June 1, 1917 he was severely wounded when leading what proved to be a very successful raid, but made a complete recovery, and on his return to duty was made a full Lieutenant. He was again wounded (gas), and though totally blind for a fortnight, returned to duty two or three weeks only before he fell. Many past months show that he was an admirable and fearless officer, much beloved by his men. Lieutenant Colonel Butler, writing to his mother says-
"Believe me, your boy's death is a great blow to me, for many months of service with him had greatly endeared him to me. His gentle, unassuming manner, his devotion to duty, and courageous bearing in the most trying circumstances were qualities every soldier might well emulate." His brothers Eustace - now adjutant of the 43rd Battalion and Norman, of the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 11th Field Ambulance, are still at the front.

Biography

Son of William Henry COLLIVER and Emily nee CHAMPION

Brothers: Captain Eustace James COLLIVER, MC, 43rd Bn, Returned *
august 1918; 17950 Sergeant Norman Champion COLLIVER, 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, returned to Australia, 23 July 1919.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Lieutenant W. G. GORDON COLLIVER, who was killed in action on September 1, was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Colliver, of Parkside. He enlisted on August 11, 1915, and left Australia on March 24, 1916, with the 32nd Battalion. He arrived in England on June 16. After special study he entered for an examination in machine gunnery and was the only one out of 50 non-com-missioned officers to be classed as 'distinguished.'
On reaching France he accepted a transfer to the 13rd Battalion, in which his brother Eustace was then lieutenant. Here his special knowledge of machine guns, particularly the Lewis gun, was used, and he received his commission as 2nd lieutenant. On June 1, 1917, he was severely wounded when leading what proved to be a very successful raid, but made a complete recovery, and on his return to duty was made a full lieutenant. He as again wounded (gas), and though totally blind for a fortnight, returned to duty two or three weeks only before he fell. Many testimonials show that he was an admirable and fearless officer, much beloved by his men. Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, writing to his mother, says:— 'Believe me, your boys death is a great blow to me, for many months of service with him had greatly endeared him to me. His gentle, unassuming manner, his devotion to duty, and courageous bearing in the most trying circumstances were qualities every soldier might well emulate.' His brothers Eustace— now adjutant of the 43rd Battillion, and Norman, of the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 11th Field Ambulance, are still at the front.

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