MCQUADE, William Thomas
| Service Number: | 2742 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | York, Western Australia, 19 March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Harvey, Harvey, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway employee |
| Died: | Railway shunting yard - fell between to carriages, Harvey, Western Australia, 26 May 1954, aged 59 years |
| Cemetery: |
Harvey Cemetery, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Harvey & Wokalup Roll of Honour Board 2, Harvey Roll of Honor, Yarloop War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2742, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2742, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Fremantle | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, 'On night of 24th/25th April 1918 during a counter-attack by their Battalion on strong enemy positions South of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, these men [McQUADE, 3024 C.W. LUCAS, 1669 F. JONES] who were Company Runners, repeatedly under very heavy machine gun and shell fire, carried important messages from Companies to Battalion Headquarters, and also did splendid work in keeping touch with units on the flanks. It was largely due to the untiring energy and devotion to duty of these men that Battalion Headquarters was kept informed of the various situations.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15 Date: 4 February 1919 Recommendation date: 5 May 1918 |
Help us honour William Thomas McQuade's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
William served as a Private (Service No. 2742) with 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial a Force during World War 1. He was thrice wounded in action. Awarded the Military Medal in 1918. He died aged 59 years.
Son of Mary Ann (nee Martin) & Ambrose McQuade
Family Members
Spouse
Constance Emily Dalton McQuade 1898–1990 (m. 1915)
Children
Gunner Francis Frederick McQuade 1920–1998
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
Enlistment date 12 August 1915
Unit name 28th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/45/2
Age at embarkation 20
Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 2 November 1915.
Unit from Nominal Roll 51st Battalion
Returned to Australia 28 February 1919
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From David Brooks (great grandson)
My great grandfather, William “Bill” McQuade remains one of my mothers favourite people. He died in a railway accident in 1954,when he was 59. He fell between two carriages during shunting and had both his legs severed. He succumbed to his injuries the next day. It was the second time he was hit by a train.
Bill signed up for service within days of news arriving in Australia about the Gallipoli campaign. He was 20 years old and just married.
Bill’s military record was … mixed. He was a leave overstayer, and seems to have some issues with discipline. However he was undoubtedly brave. He was hospitalised with wounds three times. His citation for his MM talks of his courage under heavy fire and devotion to duty.
He had his MM presented to him by Edward, the then Prince of Wales, later King and later Abdicator, susequent Duke of Windssor and prominent Nazi sympthiser.
Bill returned to Harvey in rural Western Australia where he was a passionate advocate for social justice and equality.
My mother remembers him as hilariously funny and exceptionally kind man.
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