PENTON, William
| Service Number: | 92 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 August 1914, Enlisted at Randwick, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, New South Wales, Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Singleton, Northumberland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 2 May 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC No known grave Panel 18, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, Singleton Public School HR, Singleton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 92, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Randwick, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 92, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 92, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney |
Death of Bill Penton
Archie Jamieson suggests in a letter of 20/5/15 (in the Bower & Greenhalgh letters, AWM MSS1647) that Bill Penton died on 26 April, not 2 May, 1915. Jamieson records that although Penton "was shot through the brain, he lived & was quite conscious for fully three minutes, he knew that he only had a few minutes to live, but it didn't seem to trouble him. He turned to the chap next to him, who luckily was one of our mates & shook hands with him. His last words were remember me to the other boys & get my cigarettes out of my pack, with that he fell dead. So ended the life of a good soldier & a fine pal".
Submitted 17 February 2021 by David Greenhalgh
Biography contributed by Michael Pollock
Twice a hero - Bill Penton was awarded the Royal Humane Society lifesaving medal for saving a boy from drowning in the flooded Hunter River on 28 December 1909.
Sydney Morning Herald - 29 June 1915 - PRIVATE WILLIAM PENTON. SINGLETON, Monday.
Letters received three or four weeks ago from wounded soldiers reported Private William Penton, of Singleton, as killed at Gallipoli His parents received no official intimation, and inquiries at the Defence Department elicited the reply that they had no news concerning his death.
On Saturday morning his parents received a letter posted by them to their son in February last (Feb 1915), with the word "killed" on the envelope. It was signed by a soldier who has since been killed. Private Penton was the eldest son of Mr. B. Penton, a well-known resident. He was 26 years of age, and held the Royal Shipwreck Relief Society's certificate for life-saving. He left with the first volunteers from Singleton.
Bill was the older brother of Horace Penton, born Jun 1897 in Singleton NSW, enlisted 8 Jun 1915, #2668, served with 13 Bn (NSW), 4 Bde, 4 Div AIF. Horace also served in Gallipoli and then in France, he survived the war and returned to Australia on 3 May 1919.
Biography contributed by VWM Australia
According to Mother's statement on AWM Roll of Honour Circular and family notice full name William Vere Penton
Detail Source -Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
Name William V Penton
Birth Date 1889
Birth Place New South Wales
Registration Year 1889
Registration Place Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
Father Benjamin Penton
Mother Ruth Penton
Registration Number 23608
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