CLEARY, William Frederick
| Service Numbers: | 2591, 2591A, 2592A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 18 September 1863 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine driver |
| Died: | 1937, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2591, 3rd Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 2591A, 3rd Field Company Engineers | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2592A, 3rd Field Company Engineers, Allotted regimental number 2592A | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 2591A, 3rd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Corporal, 2591A, 3rd Field Company Engineers, RMS Mooltan, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
2592A Sapper William Frederick Cleary 3rd Field Company Engineers AIF, had enlisted in August 1915, only a week after his youngest son’s death at Gallipoli. He gave his age as 44 years and 10 months, but actually understated it by seven years, being 51 years of age. He left Australia in late 1915. During the fighting near Menin Road he was awarded the Military Medal upon the following recommendation, “on September 19, 1917 at Hell Fire Corner, when proceeding along a road a wagon was struck by a shell and four men badly wounded and four horses killed. Sapper Cleary immediately rushed to the assistance of the wounded men, in spite of the knowledge that the enemy were shelling that particular spot and though the shells were bursting all around him he rendered every assistance until his wounded comrades were removed. He showed an utter disregard for danger.” He had just turned 54 years of age.
His two sons had enlisted and 2056 Pte. Errol Vincent Cleary 15th Battalion had been killed in action 7 August 1915, age 23. The other, 182 Serjt. Wyn Howard, M.M., 1st Bde. Australian Field Artillery, died of wounds 23 April 1918, age 28.
Within a few weeks of his last son’s death, William Cleary wrote to his commanding officer, “I beg to apply for my discharge from this expeditionary force on the following grounds. I was born 25 September, 1863 (54 years of age). During the present European War, I have had my two only sons killed and am sole support of my wife whom is in indifferent health. My date of attestation is July 1915, last son and myself obtained MM decorations in October 1917.”
Major Savage, the CO of the 3rd Field Company Engineers strongly recommended that Cleary be sent home, or at least be given 6 months leave to Australia on the grounds that he had been a fine soldier, that his two sons had been killed, and he was the sole support of his wife. Within three months, William Cleary was returned safely to Australia, where he attended to his sons affairs.