Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private William Robert Silcock served in World War One. He was born in December 1888, in Armadale, Victoria, Australia. His parents were William Silcock and Emily Jane Shinkfield. He had six siblings: Albert Edward (Bert), Arthur Percy (Percy), Charles George (Charlie), Edwin John, Annie Alice, and Elsie Emily.

Before the war, William lived in Toora, Victoria, and was a farm labourer when, and at the age of twenty-five, he enlisted in World War One in Prahran on the 10th of October 1914. He joined the 14th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement as a Private. 

Three days before Christmas (22nd of December 1914), William embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Berrima. On the 1st of February 1915, William’s ship arrived in Alexandria, Egypt where they did hard training for eight hours a day, six days a week. On the 12th of April 1915, he proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Lemnos. It is here that they prepared and trained for the landings. On the 25th of April, William’s brigade landed at ANZAC Cove.

There was heavy fighting from 5.30am until nightfall. From May, William’s brigade was heavily involved in establishing and defending the ANZAC front line. On the 19th of May, the brigade was occupying their position at Courtney’s Post when it became the scene of particularly ferocious fighting during a Turkish attack.

On the 6th of June 1915, William was admitted to No. 17 General Army Hospital in Alexandria for Influenza. On the 20th of July 1915, William left Alexandria and embarked for England.

On the 4th of August 1915, William had a letter published in the local Toora newspaper. He is writing from the General Hospital, Wandsworth, London where he was being treated for Rheumatism. He stated that if he is not cured, he will be sent back to Australia. He has also had a visitor from Miss Downing, a sister of a friend in Toora. He remarks that since being in Egypt he had taken up smoking. He also talks about it raining every day since being there and that the late Queen of Portugal, whose husband was murdered, is studying as a nurse at the hospital. 

William’s condition improved enough to be a ward orderly at Harefield. It is here that William met Gladys Wallace Nurse, who was to later become his wife. She was a member of a local choir and would visit that hospital to sing to wounded soldiers. However, he did not recover enough to re-join his unit and was sent home to Australia. 

By the 18th of June 1916, William arrived back in Melbourne. Shortly after his return he wrote to the Australian Military Forces, 3rd Military District and requested to be discharged immediately. William was discharged due to continued sickness. 

On the 24th of May 1917, the paper announced the engagement of Miss Gladys Wallace Nurse to William. She was the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Nurse, who lived at Customs House, London at the time. In May 1919, Gladys arrived from England with other wives and fiancés of Australian soldiers and married William. They lived in Prahran, where William worked as a Postal Assistant. 

William's brother, Edwin John was killed in action in France, whilst working as a signaller on July 4th, 1918. His body was never recovered.

On the 5th of September 1920, in Carlton, William and Gladys had their first child, Gladys Emily Eleanor and over the next twenty years they had six more children: William Victor, Maisie Florence, Stanley Ralph, Betty, Geoffrey and Leslie Henry. On the 17th of October 1973, William passed away in Springvale, Victoria, aged 85. Twenty-five years later his ashes were moved to Toora Cemetery along with Gladys' ashes.