PURCELL, William
| Service Number: | 625 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 February 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Walcha, New South Wales, 18 February 1880 |
| Home Town: | Walcha, Walcha, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Walcha, New South Wales, 12 August 1952, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 625, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 625, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne |
William Purcell - Walcha Boy
Private William (Bill) Purcell was born 1879 at 'Spring Creek' Orandumby, Walcha NSW to parents Martin & Catherine O'Brien. William was working as a labourer in Gunnedah when he enlisted on 24 Feb 1915 and joined the 19th Battalion AIF. William embarked 25 Jun 1915 on HMAT A40 Ceramic at Melbourne after training in Liverpool.
William disembarked in Suez he spent time in Egypt and was Gallipoli Peninsular August 1915. 17 Jan 1916 he was sent to Cairo hospital with a septic boil on thigh and was nursed by Sister Elizabeth Kearey, distinguished Sister of nursing.
Returned to Heliopolis 17 Feb 1916 to duty before disembarking to Marseilles and taken on strength 3 Apr 1916. After another sting in a France hospital for appendicitis he rejoined unit and attached to a Tunneling Company on 5 Mar 1917. 12 Oct William was transferred to 18th Battalion France.
Finally sent home 20 May 1919 on HMAT A71 Nestor.
William returned to Walcha where he remained until his death in 1952 aged 73. Never married. Two of his brothers also saw service with Martin returning home and Thomas being Killed in Action. The remaining 4 brothers enlisted but did not serve.
Submitted 21 April 2015 by Karen Payne
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