S3619
MALONE, William James
| Service Numbers: | 1536, 1536A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 November 1914, Oaklands, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company |
| Born: | Bowden, South Australia, 10 August 1893 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive engine cleaner |
| Died: | Natural causes (cancer), Adelaide, South Australia, 25 July 1980, aged 86 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia General E, path 14, Grave 69A |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1536, 10th Infantry Battalion, Oaklands, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1536, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1536, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Melbourne | |
| 8 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 1536A, 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company |
World War 2 Service
| 28 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA |
|---|
Help us honour William James Malone's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
William James MALONE was born in Bowden, SA, on 10th August, 1893. He was the first born son of James MALONE and Margaret McGEE. His father died in December, 1898, when William James was 5 years old. His mother stayed in Adelaide for a few years and then moved to Broken Hill, NSW. Margaret supported her family by working as a seamstress and also "took in washing". William James and his brother had to deliver the washing when it was done and they heartily disliked this task. The children all had nicknames. William James was called "Molly", but in later life he was known as "Bill".
'Bill' was employed as an Engine Cleaner with the SA Railways, posted to the Locomotive Department in Quorn. He volunteered for service in the AEF on 28th November, 1914, and was the first volunteer from Quorn to be selected although many others had volunteered. On 1st December he was farewelled by his workmates and presented with a purse of sovereigns.
On 5th December he travelled to Oaklands where he enlisted and was appointed to 10th Infantry Battalion with Service No. 1536. He was 21 years & 3 months old, and was described as being 5' 8" tall, weighing 156 lbs, with a dark complexion, dark blue eyes and black hair. From his pay of 5/- a day 'Bill' made an allotment of 3/- to his mother.
On 19th February, 1915, 'Bill' embarked for overseas on HMAT "Runic" from Melbourne. He returned home from Egypt as an invalid and spent his recuperation in South Broken Hill, where he married Nellie HOCKING on 10th June, 1915.
William James MALONE embarked on 1st September, 1915, from Outer Harbour, SA, per "Anchises". He was included in the 8th Reinforcements/10th Battalion as Acting Lance-Corporal with Service No. 2735.
The 8th Reinforcements joined the 10th Battalion at Sarpi Camp, Mudros, on Lemnos Island. William James MALONE resumed his original Service No. 1356 and was reduced to Private. The 10th Battalion left Lemnos on 26th December, 1915. The battalion desembarked in Alexandria and then moved into camp at Tel-el-Kebir.
On 31st December William James MALONE was charged with Breaking Camp and sentenced to 144 hours Detention. At his Court Martial, held on 12th January, 1916, the finding was reversed and the conviction erased from documents. The battalion spent the next weeks in re-organizing and building trenches at Habieta, part of the Suez Canal defences.
The battalion embarked for France on 27th March. They disembarked in Marseilles then travelled by train to the north of France. On 10th April, 1916, William James MALONE was selected for Escort Duty, travelling with General Birdwood. He remained at 1st Anzac Headquarters until 28th November, 1917, when he was granted 14 days Leave to UK.
On 29th January, 1918, William James MALONE was Transferred to 4th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operation Company, with the new designation of Sapper and Regimental No. 1536A.
On March 21, 1918, the Germans launched a series of attacks along the Line as part of a Spring Offensive. The following day William James MALONE was one of three men from 4th A.B.G.R.O.C. who saved their engine from falling into the hands of the enemy while attempting to save two rail mounted howitzers at Villers Faucon. All three men were nominated for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" and were awarded the Military Medal.
'Bill' enjoyed a month's Leave in the UK , then returned to France until the Armistice. On 16th February, 1919, he embarked for England for early repatriation. He embarked for Australia per H.T. "Sardinia" on 19th April, 1919, and was discharged from the AIF on 8th August, 1919.
He returned to his position in Quorn and remained with the SA Railways. In later years he and his family moved to Adelaide and his career advanced to that of Fitter's Assistant.
During WW2 he volunteered to serve in the Volunteer Defence Corps and was appointed to B Company, No 2 Battalion, with Service No. S. 68988. He remained in the VDC until 17 April, 1943.
William James MALONE Died on 24th July, 1980. He was Buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, SA.
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