WAKELY, Argent William Clissold
| Service Number: | 1046 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 April 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | First Class Air Mechanic |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Poughill, Bude, Cornwall, England, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Canterbury, Canterbury, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Stratton National School, Cornwall, England |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Illness, 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England, 29 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Poughill (St. Olaf) Churchyard St Olaf Churchyard, Poughill, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, 1046, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Omrah embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jan 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, 1046, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, RMS Omrah, Melbourne | |
| 29 Jun 1917: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, First Class Air Mechanic, 1046, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1046 awm_unit: 71 Squadron Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Air Mechanic Class II awm_died_date: 1917-06-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Argent William Clissold WAKELY was born in June quarter 1881, Stratton, Cornwall, England
His parents were Edward William WAKELY (originally spelt WACKLEY) and Barbara CLISSOLD - they married in 1878 in Stratton, Cornwall
Argent arrived in Sydney in early 1913 on the ship ORSOVA and lived in the Canterbury area
His family lived in Poughill, Cornwall and he had previously served in the 2nd Duke of Cornwalls Infantry Volunteers and also worked in the Naval Dockyards at Chatham.
He enlisted with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion in Melbourne on 22nd April, 1916 Service no. 1046 (Air Mechanic 2nd class)- He underwent engineers training in Victoria before he transferred to the AFC No 4 squadron in November. On 17th Jan. 1917 he left Melbourne on the ship Omrah - after arrival in UK he was posted to No. 71 Australian Squadron at Castle Bronwich in April but ended up in hospital later in the month as he had been taken ill on the voyage from Australia
Argent died from a cerebellar abscess and pneumonia at the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham on 29th June 1917 and is buried at Poughill (St Olaf) Cemetery in Cornwall, England - aged 36 years
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 29th June…… Argent William Clissold Wakely was born at Poughill, Bude, Cornwall, England in 1881.
He was listed as a passenger on Orsova which had departed from the port of London on 22nd November, 1912, bound for Australia.
Argent William Clissold Wakely enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd April, 1916 as a 31 year old, single, Carpenter. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had volunteered with 2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry & had previously been rejected for serving in His Majesty’s Service due to his height (Argent Wakely at the time of enlisting was 5 feet 4 ½ inches).
He was posted to 20th Depot Battalion for recruit training on 13th May, 1916 & wrote to O.C. Isolation Camp, Castlemaine on 27th June, 1916 requesting a transfer to Engineering Reinforcements, stating that he had been connected with machinery all his life and was prior to enlisting, a senior partner in a Joinery Works, He stated he had constructed houses of all descriptions and made all kinds of joinery, including staircases. Private Wakely also stated in his letter that he had worked “on the fitting of H.M. Ships as a millwright doing all kinds of work in the engine room and engineer’s store. I have also worked on some of the largest guns on H. M. Battleships eg. H.M.S. Triumph…”
On 10th July, 1916 Private Wakely was transferred to 3rd Reinforcements, 3rd Pioneers then transferred the same day to Engineer Reinforcements. During the month of October Private/Sapper Wakely was transferred back to Pioneers, then to Engineer Reinforcements & then to Miners Reinforcements. On 8th November, 1916 he was transferred to No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps at Laverton.
Air Mechanic 2nd Class Argent William Clissold Wakely, Service number 1046, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on RMS Omrah on 17th January, 1917 with the No. 4 Squadron “B” Flight, Australian Flying Corps & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 27th March, 1917. Air Mechanic 2nd Class Wakely had been admitted to Ship’s Hospital while at Sea on 26th February, 1917 with “?otitis media” & had been discharged on 1st March, 1917.
He was marched in to A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 27th March, 1917.
On 2nd April, 1917 Air Mechanic 2nd Class Wakely was transferred to No. 71 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.
He was sent sick to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England on 9th April, 1917. Air Mechanic 2nd Class Wakely was seriously ill & his condition was reported as severe on 21st June, 1917.
Air Mechanic Class II Argent William Clissold Wakely died at 3 pm on 29th June, 1917 at 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, England from Cerebellar Abscess. A report to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London from 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham stated that 2nd A.M. Wakely’s sister was present at the death.
He was buried in St. Olaf Churchyard, Poughill, Cornwall, England in a private grave and has a private headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/poughill.html
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