Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was the son of William DEER & Rose Cecelia DODGE and was born on the 8th of December 1878 in O’Halloran Hill, SA.

His parents were married in 1877 in Sydney, NSW.

His father was the son of William DEER & Mary Ann WORKMAN and was born on the 3rd of January 1836 in West Wratting, Cambridgeshire, England.
His mother was the daughter of Joseph James & Mary Ann DODGE and was born on the 28th of June 1851 in Kingston Upon Thames, England.

William was the eldest child born into this family of 8 children.

William’s father was labourer and the family lived in Hurtle Vale.

Hurtle Vale was never officially registered as a geographical name although widely used in the community for some time. Today the suburbs of Happy Valley, O’Halloran Hill, Trott Park, Sheidow Park, Reynella and parts of Hallett Cove, Morphett Vale and Woodcroft can be found within the old definition of Hurtle Vale.

After completing his schooling William gained employment as a labourer.

William met a lovely young lady; Miss Lily May GREGORY and on the 13th of January 1901 they welcomed a son; Percival William GREGORY (DEER).

William and Lily then married on the 16th of April 1902 in the Registry Office, Adelaide, SA.
Lily was the daughter of Walter James GREGORY & Alice Maud AUSTIN and was born on the 18th of February 1882 in Salisbury, SA.

They made their first home off Brighton Road, New Brighton and welcomed Jessie Constance into the family on the 12th of January 1903, but sadly she died on the 15th of March and they buried her in the St Jude’s Cemetery, Brighton.

The following year Verna Alice Rose was born on the 4th of March 1904, but sadly she died before her 1st birthday on the 14th of February 1905 and they buried her with little Jessie.
Just 6 weeks later Elsie May was born on the 31st of March and then Alexander William was born on the 13th of April 1906.

Walter Gregory was the next to be born on the 21st of June 1907 and then sadly, just 4 months later, Alexander died and they buried him in the Kangarilla Cemetery.
Howard Austin was their last child born on the 11th of January 1910.

With the outbreak of WW1 his brother George Henry, enlisted into the 9th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron on the enlisted 15th of September 1914 (116).

At the age of 37, William enlisted into the AIF on the 29th of April 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 5108 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
Two days later he was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 14th Reinforcements and then on the 16th of June he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements.

William embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Barambah on the 27th of June 1916 and disembarked in Plymouth on the 25th of August.
After 4 weeks here in training he proceeded to France and was transferred to the 32nd Battalion.

He served for nearly 3 years overseas and was wounded before embarking from England on the 8th of January 1919 on board HT Orsova.
He disembarked in Adelaide on the 18th of February and was discharged from the AIF on the 4th of April 1919.

By 1930 they had moved to 21 Maitland Terrace, Seacliff and William was a dairyman.

On the 15th of January 1934 their son Percival enlisted into the RAAF (300037) and by 1938 William was a labourer.

With the outbreak of WW2 their son Howard enlisted into the RAN on the 18th of September 1939 (PA/1625).

They remained in their home at 21 Maitland Terrace, Seacliff and when William retires he became a Councillor for Brighton.

Lily died on the 22nd of April 1954 in Seacliff, SA and William buried her in the St Jude’s Cemetery, Brighton.

William died on the 24th of March 1966 in the Daws Park Repatriation Hospital and was buried in the St Jude’s Cemetery, Brighton.

Military

At the age of 37, William enlisted into the AIF on the 29th of April 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 5108 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his wife, of Seacliff, Brighton, as his next of kin.

Two days later he was transferred to the 27th Battalion, 14th Reinforcements and then on the 16th of June he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements.

William embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Barambah on the 27th of June 1916 and disembarked in Plymouth on the 25th of August.
After 4 weeks here in training he proceeded to France on the 29th of September and marched into 2nd ADBD (Australian Divisional Base Depot) in Etaples, 2 days later.

William was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion on the 13th of October and was taken on strength of with them, 2 days later, who was in training at Strazeele.

The 32nd Battalion had fought their first major battle at Fromelles on the 19th of July 1916, having only entered the front-line trenches 3 days previously. The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 32nd and they suffered 718 casualties, almost 75 per cent of the battalion's total strength, but closer to 90 per cent of its actual fighting strength.

Two days later they marched to Baillieul, entrained to Longpre and marched 8 miles to Gorenflos.
Then a few days later they moved to Buire, Mametz Wood and Montauban before relieving the 31st Battalion in the front line in Scabbard & Crest Trenches.

They were relieved 5 days later and moved to St Vast for further training until the 18th of November when they embussed from Vignacourt for Ribemont.
They following day they moved to H Camp at Montauban, then onto D Camp at Trones Wood and then into the front line trenches on the 22nd.
They were relieved 9 days and returned to H Camp at Montauban.

Three days later William was detached for 5 days to the Trench Mortar School and when he rejoined his Battalion they were in Finch Trench.
Christmas 1916 was spent at Dernancourt on fatigue duty and then it was here on the 2nd of January 1917 that William was admitted into the 8th Australian Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station suffering from boils.
He was transferred to the 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Amiens on the 25th of January and then onto the 6th General Hospital in Rouen on the 10th of February.

The following day William was transferred to No. 2 Convalescent Depot and after a further 4 weeks here he was discharged to the 5th ADBD (Australian Divisional Base Depot in Etaples and medically classified Class A (Fit for Active Service).
William rejoined his Battalion on the 6th of April at Grevillers Camp.

After spending a bitter winter undertaking defensive duties on the Somme they then took part in the operations in pursuit of the German forces as they withdrew towards the Hindenburg Line.
Then they were used as a flank protection role during the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May before moving to Bapaume in early June for 2 weeks training.

Their next moved was to Martinsaart for more training before moving to Racquinghem on the 31st of July.
Whilst here, William was granted 2 week leave to England on the 2nd of September before rejoining his Battalion and moving to Steenvorde and onto Wippenhoek.

On the 26th of September they were heavily committed to the fighting around Polygon Wood near Yres in Belgium during the Battle of Passchendaele.
Here they were employed in a support role, as the 8th Brigade's assault was led by the 29th and 31st Battalions.
Following the assault, the Brigade adopted a defensive posture, supporting further efforts around Zillebeke and Anzac Ridge.

In early December they moved to Desvres Camp, near Boulogne, for training, where they spent Christmas 1917 before moving into the front line near Warneton in February.
March was then spent in Gable Camp at Wulverghem, near Messines where they were engaged in working parties before entering the front line at Gapaard.

By May they were located at Vaux-ser-Somme and were in reserve for the 29th Battalion before spending June in the Aubigny line in Rivery, near Amiens.
On the 17th of July they moved into reserve at Ribemont and relieved the 58th Battalion and then prepared for an attack on the Bray-Corbie Road.

It was during this attack on the enemy lines on the Bray-Corbie Road on the 29th of July that William suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his left thigh and was admitted into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance, then transferred to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at Vignacourt and transferred by No.38 Ambulance Train to the 16th General Hospital in Le Treport.
Then on the 12th of August William was evacuated to England and admitted into the General Military Hospital in Edmonton.

After 2 weeks here he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford and then discharged to 2 weeks furlough on the 2nd of September.
William then reported to No. 4 Command Depot in Hurdcott on the 16th of September and 6 weeks later he was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade in Longbridge Deverill on the 24th of October.

William never returned to France and spent his last Christmas in England before embarking on the 8th of January 1919 on board HT Orsova.
He disembarked in Adelaide on the 18th of February and was discharged from the AIF on the 4th of April 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.