SCHADEL, William Herbert
| Service Number: | 1074 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 October 1914, An original member of H Company, 13th Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, 21 October 1895 |
| Home Town: | Bellambi, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Striker |
| Died: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 15 October 1959, aged 63 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Wollongong Cemetery, NSW |
| Memorials: | Nowra Soldiers Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1074, 13th Infantry Battalion, An original member of H Company, 13th Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1074, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1074, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 28 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 45th Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 45th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 45th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Honoured Military Cross |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Herbert Riordan was one of three brothers in his family to enlist. William was the only one who returned. He enlisted as a private in 1914 and returned to Australia as a decorated Captain in the Australian Infantry. He was still only 23 years of age.
His brother, 2228 Pte. Ernest John Schadel 3rd Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Lone Pine on Gallipoli during August 1915, aged 22.
Another older brother, 1661 Cpl. George Edward Schadel, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment was killed in action near Jerusalem in modern day Israel on 14 July 1918, aged 29.
William landed on Gallipoli with the 13th Battalion on 25 April 1915 and went right through the campaign, being promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant. He was recommended for an award during the evacuation of Anzac. “For services in connection with the preparation for, and the execution of, the operation of re-embarkation. Was a member of the “C” (final) party, to leave the trenches.”
He did not receive an award but was promoted to Second Lieutenant during February 1916. He transferred to the 45th Battalion during the doubling of the AIF in early 1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant and served through the Pozieres battles before he was promoted to Captain during October 1916 and was again recommended for an award for gallantry near Goudecourt during November 1916.
He was eventually awarded a Military Cross for gallantry on 21 August 1917, near Wytschaete in Belgium.
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his post was attacked by a party of twenty enemy with a machine gun, he went forward with a strong patrol at a critical moment, succeeded in driving them out, and captured their gun. It was due to his quick appreciation of the situation and swift action that the attack was repulsed and the post remained intact.”
William continued to serve throughout the war, unwounded but enduring bouts of trench fever and bronchitis. He was eventually returned to Australia on 16 September 1918.
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