CAULFIELD, William Stanley
| Service Number: | 2359 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Mentone, Victoria, Australia, February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Cheltenham, Bayside, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ironmonger |
| Died: | Wounds, 11th Australian General Hospital, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 24 September 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham (Pioneer) Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cheltenham School No 84 Roll of Honour, Mentone St. Augustine's Anglican Church Memorial Window |
World War 1 Service
| 14 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2359, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2359, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Persia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 10 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2359, 14th Infantry Battalion, RMS Persia, Melbourne | |
| 7 Mar 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Polygon Wood, During the attack near Zonnebeke on 25/26th September he acted as a runner for the MG section under heavy shell and MG fire. Original recommendation for a DCM. Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918 | |
| 27 Jul 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2359, 4th Machine Gun Company, 3rd MD, wounding, Battle Polygon Wood. | |
| 24 Sep 1919: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2359, 4th Machine Gun Company, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2359 awm_unit: 4th Australian Machine Gun Company awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1919-09-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From How We Served
2359 Lance Corporal William Stanley Caulfield MM had been employed as an ironmonger, and was a resident of Cheltenham, Victoria when he enlisted for War Service on the 28th of May 1915 at the age of 18.
Originally allocated to reinforcements for the 14th Battalion 1st AIF, William was embarked for Egypt and further training on the 10th of August.
William officially joined his Unit in the field whilst they were resting on Mudros Island on the 1st of January 1916, following the end of the Gallipoli campaign.
On arrival back in Egypt, William was transferred over to the 4th Machine Gun Company, with whom he would embark with for France on the 1st of June.
William was with his unit when they were committed to the 'Third Battle of Ypres', and it was during the heavy fighting that ensued in Belgium that William was seriously 'Wounded in Action' by shellfire on the 25th of September during the Battle of Menin Road Ridge. and which caused him multiple shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and back, William was at this time also recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, but this would be downgraded to the Military Medal, for his bravery in the field whilst under heavy enemy bombardment.
Evacuated back to England for hospitalization, William would not be returned to the trenches. Instead, now deemed an invalid, due the dangerous injuries he had sustained, he would be repatriated back to Australia. Departing England on the 13th of March 1918.
Following William's return to Melbourne he was admitted into the 11th Australian General Hospital (Caulfield) as a long-term patient. It was whilst being treated for those wounds he had received in Belgium, that William finally succumbed to his injuries on the 24th of September 1919, aged 22.
Lance Corporal Caulfield MM was granted an official headstone due to his death being directly caused by his time with the 1st AIF.
Following his premature passing, William who was a severely wounded veteran of the 'Great War' was formally laid to rest within Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery, Victoria
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