CONROY, William Matthew
| Service Number: | 3163 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1915, An original of A Section |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Benalla, Victoria, Australia, 2 February 1885 |
| Home Town: | Benalla, Benalla, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Joseph's Primary School, Benalla, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 2 October 1917, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Plot I, Row G, Grave No. 24 OUR LOVED ONE R.I.P. SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL |
| Memorials: | Benalla War Memorial, Tungamah War Memorial, Wilby Plaque of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3163, 6th Field Ambulance, An original of A Section | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 1915: | Involvement Sergeant, 3163, 6th Field Ambulance, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Jun 1915: | Embarked Sergeant, 3163, 6th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Melbourne | |
| 5 Dec 1916: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 20 Jul 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Awarded MILITARY CROSS for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great courage in leading bombing attacks. He was wounded on three occasions, but stuck to his post till ordered to go to the dressing station. His disregard of personal safety was most marked. | |
| 2 Oct 1917: | Involvement Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 28 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-10-02 |
Help us honour William Matthew Conroy'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 was born and raised in Benalla, Victoria, the only son of James and Bridget Conroy.
William Matthew Conroy was a teacher at Pelluebla South, near Tungamah Victoria, before enlisting as a Sergeant with the 6th Field Ambulance. He served on Gallipoli from late August 1915 until evacuated sick during November 1915 and transferred to England for treatment. has been wounded in the hand and foot. He rejoined the 6th Field Ambulance during August 1916 and was awarded a Military Medal when on 14 November 1916, Sgt Conroy was in charge of a party stationed at north of Flers, France when he assisted a wounded comrade 300 yards away and displayed excellent courage while under heavy bombardment.
During March 1917 he transferred to the infantry, the 28th Battalion, and was quickly promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Soon after he was awarded the Military Cross for "gallantry and determination in leading bombing attacks, despite being wounded, in the Hindenberg Line, east of Bullecourt, France on 3 May 1917". He suffered bomb wounds to the hands and feet during the action and was evacuated to England.
He was promoted to Lieutenant a few days before the 1 October 1917, where he was wounded in action near Zonnebeke, Belgium, and died of his wounds the next day.
Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley
Lieutenant William Matthew Conroy, M.C., only son of Mrs. Conroy, of Benalla West, was killed in action in France on 2nd October, 1917.
He was born on the 2nd of February, 1885, became junior teacher at Benalla in 1905, head teacher of the half-time schools at Moyhu South and Edi South in 1909, and head teacher at Pelluebla, near Benalla, in 1911.
He enlisted in January, 1915, went through the Gallipoli Campaign, was awarded the Military Medal and made a Lieutenant for gallantry at Pozières, and won the Military Cross at Bapaume. A copy of a letter from General Birdwood runs thus:
"1st Anzac Corps, 26th June, 1917. Dear Conroy, —This is a line to congratulate you very heartily upon the award to you of the Military Cross in recognition of your good work in the attack on the Hindenburg Line on the 3rd May, when you displayed conspicuous gallantry and determination in your bombing assaults and repelling enemy counter-attacks. I know that, although wounded on three occasions, you stuck to your post for four hours, when you were ordered to go back to the dressing-station. Thank you very much for your good service, and I do trust you are making satisfactory progress in hospital. With good wishes, yours sincerely, W. R. BIRDWOOD."
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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