MCNEICH, William Henry
| Service Number: | 1704 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, February 1896 |
| Home Town: | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 22 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery Plot I, Row A, Grave No. 29. IN MEMORY OF THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF MR. & MRS. McNEICH OF WAGGA WAGGA |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wagga Wagga Cenotaph, Wagga Wagga Victory Memorial Arch |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1704, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1704, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1704, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
Help us honour William Henry McNeich's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Henry McNeich was only 19 years of age when he enlisted.
He was trained as a Lewis gunner in England during 1917. He was given leave in England which he overstayed by a couple of weeks until arrested by Military Police in London. He faced a Court Martial and was given 60 days detention as punishment. He was released and sent back to France after having served about 30 days of his sentence.
Only 5 days before his death he earned a Miltary Medal, the recommendation stating, ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on an enemy post near Proyart on 17 August 1918. During the attack this man noticed an enemy machine gun firing on his party. He immediately engaged it and placed it out of action and wounded the crew of three who endeavoured to escape with the gun. Private McNeich followed the retreating enemy and fired on them with his Lewis gun, compelling them to abandon their gun, which he captured, and used same to cover the withdrawal of his party after handing over his Lewis gun to another man. This man’s coolness and daring during the whole operation was most marked, and his prompt action in capturing and using the enemy machine gun assisted materially in enabling our men to withdraw from the enemy post.’
He was still only 22 years of age when he was killed by a stray shell while manning an outpost near Proyart.
The Military Medal was sent to the mayor of Wagga Wagga for presentation to his parents and family.
Click images to start slideshow.