DALY, William Warren
| Service Number: | 4474 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 24 July 1896 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Pleasant Street State School & Dana Street State School, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 22 July 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4474, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4474, 8th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 58th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4474, 58th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Gunshot wounds to back and arms | |
| 22 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4474, 58th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Died of wounds | |
| 22 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 4474, 58th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4474 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-22 | |
| 28 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 4474, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 4474, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne |
WW1
The information provided has been published (2019) in the book titled "The Lost Boys" written by Paul Byrnes. Details are written at pages 162 to 169 & 361. Lest We Forget Rest In Peace
Submitted 14 October 2022 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of William and Christina Daly.
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His younger brother, 4643 Pte. James Fitzgibbon Daly also of the 58th Battalion AIF was killed in action 19 July, 1916. Age 17.
Both boys embarked with the 14th reinforcements to the 8th Battalion, 28 December 1915, and transferred to the 58th Bn during April 1916.
William was farmer prior to the war. He was wounded in action on the 19 July 1916 at Fromelles, with gun shot wounds to the arm and side, and was aged 24 when he died of his wounds three days later, in the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.
Biography contributed by Sue Smith
William Warren Daly, known as Bill, was born on 24th July 1898 at Ballarat VIC, the eldest of 7 children born to his parents William and Christina Daly. His siblings were Bessie, Constance, an unnamed male who died at 8 days old, James, Henry and Christina. William attended the Pleasant Street State School and the Dana Street State School in Ballarat and then worked as a labourer.
On 18th August 1915 Bill enlisted for WW1 in the AIF at Ballarat VIC aged 23. His younger brother James had enlisted 6 weeks earlier on 7th July aged just 16 but he gave his age as 18 years and 4 months. Their father had died in February 1912 so Bill, being the eldest of the children, was of the greatest support to his mother.
Bill is described as being 5ft 5ins tall with a reddish complexion, light brown eyes and auburn hair. His service number was 4474, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 8th Infantry Battalion 14th Reinforcements where he joined his brother James in the same unit. The brothers embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 28th January 1916 and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 28th February 1916. They proceeded to the 2nd Training Battalion at Zeitoun Camp then on 1st April they both transferred to the 58th Infantry Battalion at Ferry Post Camp. On 21st April Bill was admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance with an undisclosed condition and rejoined his unit 4 days later. The Battalion moved to Moascar Camp on 2nd June then on the 17th June they embarked from Alexandria for France on HMT Transylvania. They disembarked at Marseilles 6 days later then made their way north by train.
On the 19th July the Battalion moved into the frontline trenches and took part in the Battle of Fleurbaix. This was to be James’ first and last battle…he was killed in action that day aged 17. Bill was wounded the same day sustaining gunshot wounds to his back and arms. He was admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance then transferred to the No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul the next day. He succumbed to his wounds there dying on the 22nd July 1916…just 2 days before his 24th birthday. Bill was buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension and James was buried in the Rue -Du-Bois Military Cemetery at Fleurbaix.
Their mother, Christina, was informed first of the death of Bill and was so distressed that Ballarat's Chaplain Snell requested that the army withhold news of the death of James because 'it is feared that in her present condition of health the news would prove fatal to her'. In a subsequent letter of apology the Army regretted that due to 'a chain of unhappy circumstances the request was inadvertently overlooked.' Christina proved strong enough to survive the devastating news, and to disclose that James had been just 17 years of age.
After the war their mother Christina received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, for each of them. These were presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging the soldier’s service and their loss as a family.
Bill and James are commemorated on panel 165 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT. They are also commemorated with trees planted in their honour in the Avenue of Honour on Remembrance Drive, Ballarat VIC.
William Warren Daly was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 27th October 2023.
Sources
The Lost Boys written by Paul Byrnes (Book)
https://honouringouranzacs.com.au/people/details/1900
Click images to start slideshow.