Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sergeant William Francis McCullough SN 2863

William McCullough was born in Mansfield in North East Victoria in 1893. When he enlisted on July 12, 1915, he was living with his parents, nominating his Father Joseph (the district rabbit inspector) in Raglan st, White Hills, as his nearest of Kin.

William had just turned twenty-one the prior month, which meant he didn't require his parent’s consent to enlist. He listed his occupation as a gardener, most likely a ‘market gardener’ which was a fairly common occupation on the rich alluvial soils on the White Hills creek, a former gold mining hamlet 3 miles north of Bendigo. 

William had joined the citizen force of the 67th Battalion in Bendigo prior to the war and had been a keen footballer for White Hills in the local Wednesday afternoon competition.

Recruitment for the Australian Imperial Force known as the ‘Expeditionary Force’ was front page news at this early stage of the war.

The Bendigo Independent newspaper reported on July 13 under the headline ‘STILL THEY COME’-                                                      

'At a special depot in Pall Mall there were 127 applications to sign up on July 12, 1915, with 87 passing, 25 rejected and 15 deferred.'   The article went on to say;

"They are a happy lot, the young fellows who have loyally come forward and indicated their anxiety to take a hand in the stern game of war. They seem lo have thrown off their responsibilities and worries of the work-a-day world, and their higher resolve has put a glint into their eyes that was previously not there". (Source – Bendigo Independent Tuesday, July 13, 1915.) 

William would spend his first two months of training reporting to the Depot most likely which was in Sturt street, South Melbourne. In mid September, William is selected to go to Signal School for one month of training, no doubt, a great honour among the recruits.

Following signals training he is attached to the 6th Reinforcements of the 24th Battalion and prepares for war, embarking on October 27, 1915 on board the HMAT Ulysses, from Port Melbourne. Launched in 1913, the HMAT Ulysses was the largest ship to serve as a troop carrier and not unexpectedly the one that carried the most passengers. Despite the HMAT Ulysses A38 being a relative new ship, this voyage was one of the longest voyages involving the AIF troops. For unknown reasons, the Ulysses would arrive into the Egyptian port of Alexandria, nearly four months after leaving Melbourne.

Egypt would have been a hive of activity as William and the other AIF recruits would join the thousands of troops recently returned from the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign. Ships were arriving daily bringing reinforcements to rebuild the depleted battalions and prepare for deployment to the western front in France And Belguim.

William would be taken into the camp at Serapeum on February 24, 1916. This camp at Serapeum, was the site of the ancient and great temple dedicated to the Greek – Egyptian god of Serepis in ancient Alexandria founded around 300 BC. Very little of this ancient monument remained standing, however the troops would pitch their tents within sight of the ancient pyramids. (see Photo)

After just a month in Egypt, William and the other reinforcements would sail for France landing at Marseilles on March  26, 1916. Possibly a very welcome sea journey of just 5 days after the stifling heat of Egypt.   

Landing in Marseilles would be their first sight of Europe. “The harbour in spring was a beautiful site after our long stay in desolate Egypt” wrote Private Roy Ramsey of the AIF 3rd Field Ambulance. We all hoped for a few days in Marseilles but the authorities were reluctant to let us loose on the city, no doubt on account of our doubtful reputation earned in Egypt.”

The Australians journeyed by troop train up the Rhone valley heading for Calais, then eastwards to the western front in French Flanders, 200 km north of Paris. Estaples, the British and Commonwealth staging depot in Northern France was their destination close to the Belgium border.

By April 1916, William and the 6th Reinforcements of the 24th battalion would join the bulk of AIF's infantry divisions who were already in France and Belgium digging in, in the trenches of the Western Front. Their first major action in France came at Pozières and Mouquet Farm in July and August 1916.

In mid June, William would spend 7 days out of the horror of the front, being treated for dental issues. He returns to action on June 25 and spends another 4 months in the field being hospitaised again in early November for 5 days. He would spend the winter back in the field with the 24th Battalion.

On March 19, 1917 William McCullough’s war takes a turn for the better. He is detached from his Infantry Battalion and appointed a Signaler for the 7th Battalion. He is also promoted Sergeant. 

The 7th Battalion, also fighting on the Somme along with other AIF troops were pursuing the Germans who had shortened their lines and were withdrawing to the Hindenburg Line. In late February, the 7th had launched what was meant to be a trench raid, but turned into an open advance, seeing them extend their lines by 2.5 kilometres. The Allied advance, however, was brief as the Germans had established themselves in strength, and was halted at Bullecourt.               (Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Battalion_(Australia)

In May the battalion was withdrawn from the front line for re-organisation and training. Over this period in May, William would be given two weeks leave to travel to England for his first ever visit. He would rejoin his battalion in on August 8, in order to prepare for  the Third Battle of Ypres in September and October 1917, when they were committed to the fighting first at Menin Road. The 7th Battalion had 57 men killed in this phase, and then late at Broodseinde another 98 were killed. Following these battles, the 7th Battalion was withdrawn from the front line in 1917.   

On November 28, William would be transferred to the Ist Division Signal Company. The Division Signals Company was tasked with providing communications from the Headquarters to those of subordinate formations. This would be by a combination of telephone (requiring the laying of line) and limited radio towards the end of WW1. Laying line was one of the most hazardous jobs in the front line.   The "Linies" had to move above ground carrying a reel of wire. They could often be the only moving thing on the battlefield and thus attracted fire - both small arms and even artillery fire. Hence the task was often performed at night, with the added risk of getting disorientated on the battlefield. The "linies" also had the unenviable task of locating and repairing breaks in the line.                     (Source - https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/units/19

William would serve in the field for the Ist Division Signal company throughout the tumultuous 1918 year. After major victories in the field by the AIF including the hundred days of battles from August onwards that turned the tide of the war.

William would be granted a further three weeks leave to return to England in September rejoining his unit in the weeks leading up to the signing of the Armistice on November 11.

Following the cessation of fighting, he would spend another winter in northern France, finally being cleared to return to England on January 29 for a priority ‘Return to Australia’ (RTA) as he had enlisted in 1915.

On April 12, 1919, William would embark from Devenport in southern England on HM Suffolk arriving back in Melbourne on June 5. He would be discharged from the AIF on July 28, 1919, having served his country for 4 long years and two weeks.

Sergeant William Francis McCullough is remembered by the people of White Hills. The names of the local lads who sacrificed their lives and those that were fortunate to return from the Great War are shown on the embossed copper plaques on the White Hills Arch of Triumph, at the entrance to the White Hills Botanic Gardens.