DALY, William
| Service Number: | 6256 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 April 1916, 20th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Germanton, New South Wales, Australia, 3 March 1899 |
| Home Town: | Junee, Junee, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Private tutoring at the family home |
| Occupation: | Railway employee |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 28 February 1917, aged 17 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bazentin-le-Petit Military Cemetery Row H, Grave No. 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6256, 4th Infantry Battalion, 20th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 6256, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 6256, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 28 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6256, 4th Infantry Battalion, Both legs severed below the knees and abdominal wounds from a shell |
Help us honour William Daly's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From François Berthout, Australia and New Zealand in WWI
Today, it is with great respect and affection, to commemorate the anniversary of his death and to honor his life and his memory, that I come to pay a very respectful tribute to Private number 6256 William Daly🌺🇦🇺
William Daly was born in 1900 in Germanton, New South Wales and was the son of Patrick and Mary Daly of Mullengendra, New South Wales.Before the war, William worked as a Railway employee and lived at the Railway Hotel, Junee, New South Wales.
Enlisted on April 5, 1916 at the age of 16 in the 4th Australian infantry battalion, 20th Reinforcement, he embarked from Sydney with his unit on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 9 September 1916.Disembarked on October 8,1916 in Plymouth, England, he received his training in Warsham, England then he embarked with his unit from Folkestone,England on board SS Arundel on December 13,1916 and he arrived in Etaples, France on December 14,1916 before to be directed on the front of the Somme.
Unfortunately, two months later, while fighting at Le Barque near Bapaume in the Somme, on February 28, 1917 while he was in a trench, a shell fell very close to him and William was very seriously wounded, his two legs were severed below the knees and he also had an abdominal injury. William was transported to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance in Bazentin-Le-Petit, Somme where he suffered enormously during 4 hours before dying of his wounds,he was 17.
Today, William rests in peace at Bazentin-Le-Petit Military Cemetery, Somme.
Thank you William, just like millions of young men, you answered the call of duty and you fought with great bravery, you gave every part of your youth and you gave your life so that we can live today.Today our generation is and will always be grateful for all that you have done for us.The Somme will never forget and we will never forget you William.Very Respectfully.🌺🇦🇺
Biography contributed by Sue Smith
William Daly was born on the 3rd March 1899 at Germantown NSW, now known as Holbrook, the youngest of 3 children born to his parents Patrick and Mary Daly. His siblings were John, known as Jack, and Sarah. When William’s grandfather Owen Daly, a pioneer of the area, died in 1905 the family moved to the 8,000 acre property he had owned at Mullengandra. William and his siblings were educated by governesses at the property and he was gifted in singing, playing the piano, piano accordion and the unique Australian instrument…the gum leaf. We he was old enough William worked on the property with his father. He would ride around the property on a small cart pulled by pet goats.
When WW1 broke out Patrick was too old to enlist but the eldest son Jack was 19 so he went to enlist. However, he was rejected because of a badly turned eye. When Jack received a white feather, the symbol of cowardice, Will was incensed. He was just 15 when he ran away from home to enlist. However, he was soon discovered to be underage and was sent back home. A few months later when he turned 16 he tried again. He ran away to Junee NSW, 95 miles north of Mullengandra, where he found a job working with the railway.
On 5th April he enlisted at Cootamundra NSW giving his age as 21 years and 2 months but he was actually just 17. He’s described as being 5ft 6ins tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His service number was 6256 and his rank Private. He proceeded to Liverpool Camp NSW for training where he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Battalion 20th Reinforcements. This Battalion became known as the “Fighting Fourth.” Prior to embarking he went back home to Mullengandra to say goodbye. He was given a hearty farewell by the townsfolk and presented with a wrist watch. Before leaving he had a portrait taken at Albury.
Willia embarked from Sydney on 9th September 1916 on HMAT Euripides and disembarked at Plymouth UK on 8th October 1916. He proceeded to Wareham Camp at Dorset where he completed further training before embarking for France from Folkestone on the 13th December 1916 on HMT Arundel. He disembarked at Etaples France the next day and joined the 4th Battalion on the 20th December 1916 at Bernafay Wood where they were in the support trenches “Switch and Gap” near Flers. The weather was cold and there was a lot of snow which made the trenches very muddy. Will spent a wet and windy Christmas Day in the trenches and it was to be his last.
The Battalion was relieved on 7th January 1917 and they marched to Coolgardie Camp at Meaulte and then on to Ribemont the next day. They moved to Contay 5 days later and remained there for 10 days before moving to Becourt on the east of Albert. On 31st January they relieved the 3rd Battalion in the support trenches at Turk Lane and North Road. They were relieved on 11th February and marched to the camp at Fricourt Farm just north of Fricourt. They remained there till the 22nd February then marched to Albert. They proceeded to Bendigo Camp 3 days later which was located south of Bazentin.
The Battalion moved to Le Barque on 27th February 1917 into the frontline trenches Wheat and Bark. They experienced heavy shelling from the enemy and one of those shells landed on the post occupied by William. He was critically wounded having had both legs blown off below the knee he and sustained abdominal injuries as well. He was evacuated to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance at Bazentin-le-Petit but succumbed to his wounds there 2 hours later just 3 days short of his 18th birthday. William was buried the next day at Bazentin-le-Petit Military Cemetery formerly called Singer Circus Cemetery.
After the war his parents, Patrick and Mary, received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, which was presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging William’s service and their loss as a family.
William is commemorated on panel 39 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT.
William Daly was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 20th February 2024.
Sources
The Lost Boys by Paul Byrnes (book)
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