SPEECHLEY, William George
| Service Number: | 690 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Vic., 1892 |
| Home Town: | Long Gully, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | North Bendigo State School No 1267 |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Federated Mining Employees Association No. 1 Bendigo Branch Honor Roll, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, North Bendigo State School No 1267 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 690, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 690, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne |
Family
Sgt Speechley is survived by His Daughter age 93 and Grandson age 76 as at 2024
Submitted 21 March 2024 by Dennis Causby
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Husband of Mrs Eva Speechley, Holdsworth Road, Long Gully, Long Gully, Bendigo, Victoria
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'During the operations of 7-9 October, 1918, in the advance from Geneve to Busigny, he guided two companies to the assembly point under difficult conditions and heavy fire. During the attack he was, by his gallant leadership, directly responsible for the killing and capturing of a number of the enemy with their machine guns.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 35
Date: 15 April 1920
Military Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on VILLE-SUR-ANCRE near ALBERT on the morning of 19th, May, 1918. This N.C.O. was in charge of a Platoon during the attack, and showed great judgment and initiative in getting his men forward. In one place the platoon was held up by a nest of three Machine Guns. SPEECHLEY organised the Platoon for the attack, enveloped their flank, and captured the guns with only slight casualties to his men. On arriving on the objective he found that his platoon had suffered many casualties, but his determination was so great and his cheerfulness so infective that his men were enabled, mainly owing to his personality, to complete the task allotted to them.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919