LANDER, William Richard
| Service Number: | 2637 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 49th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Eudlo, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 12 October 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eudlo "In Memoriam" Honour Roll, Eudlo Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Nambour Heroes Walk, Nambour Maroochy Shire War Dead Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Oct 1916: |
Involvement
Private, 2637, 49th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
2637, LCPL William Richard LANDER, 49th Bn. - data referenced against enlitment record by user Dan Lander - note service number |
|
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2637, 49th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Involvement Third Ypres | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2637, 49th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2637 awm_unit: 49th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-10-12 |
Bravery Recommendation
This soldier's service record shows that On 17 Sep 1917, the Commanding Officer of the 49th Bn recommended Private William Lander for a bravery award. The "Action for which commended" reads:
" In the battle of MESSINES, 7/9 June, 1917. This man was the only on of his Lewis Gun team who succeeded in reaching the final objective. Immediately on gaining the objective he put his gun into position and with commendable bravery and coolness, worked it single handed, in the face of fierce artillery and machine gun fire.
He and his gun were twice buried. When he was dug out, he secured his gun, cleaned it and continued to work it. He also very ably assisted in the consolidation of the line.
A great amount of credit is due to this soldier for his undoubted courage, coolness and cheerfulness, which went for towards cheering all those who ca=me into contact with him"
Sadly, his record indicates that the recommendation was never forwarded to the next level for actioned and no commendation or award was ever issued.
On 12 October 1917, less than a month later, he was killed at Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium.
Vale William... from one old digger, I salute you.
Dan Lander
QLD
Submitted 19 October 2022 by Dan Lander
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