DARRAGH, William Gordon
| Service Number: | 8358 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 July 1915, 6 year AMC, Newcastle |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 23 December 1883 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Newcastle South Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fitter's labourer |
| Died: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 25 September 1935, aged 51 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW PRESBYTERIAN-7SW. 58. |
| Memorials: | Junction Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8358, 1st Field Ambulance, 6 year AMC, Newcastle | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 8358, 1st Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 8358, 1st Field Ambulance, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 19 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 5th Field Ambulance | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 8358, 5th Field Ambulance, 2nd Passchendaele , Gassed | |
| 21 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 8358, 5th Field Ambulance, 2nd MD, Medically unfit |
Help us honour William Gordon Darragh's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery.
Served and suffered during The Great War, now resting at the Sandgate Cemetery.
86 years ago today, on the 27th September 1935, Private William Gordon Darragh, 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade (Reg No-8358), fitter's labourer (Walsh Island Government Dockyard, Newcastle, N.S.W.), from 168 Corlette Street, The Junction, New South Wales and 49 Military Road, Newcastle, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 51. PRESBYTERIAN-7SW. 58.
Born at Newcastle, New South Wales on the 23rd December 1883 (as Willie G) to Edward James (died 1931) and Mary (died 1925) Darragh, William enlisted July 1915 with the 1st Australian Field Ambulance at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 25.6.1917 (scabies), 4.8.1917 (not stated). Wounded in action - 30.10.1917 (gassed).
Mr. Darragh’s name has been inscribed on the Junction Soldiers' Memorial along with his brother Edward were inscribed on the Junction Soldiers' Memorial, unveiled on the 9th August 1919, 140 names originally inscribed, 143 names now inscribed, 27 Fallen) and the Newcastle South Public School Roll of Honour (as Darrough).
Older brother Edward James (M.M., M.I.D., Original Anzac, 4th Australian Field Ambulance, Reg No-1007, born 1880, died 1952, Kurri Kurri, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.
Letter home from Colonel Joseph Lievesley Beeston (M.D., M.L.C., C.M.G., V.D., Australian Army Medical Corps, died 1921, also resting at the cemetery - ANGLICAN 1-17. 63.) mentions brother Edward.
The Darragh family gravesite does not have a headstone inscription for William, so July 2016 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.
I submitted an application August 2016 to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque to be placed at the gravesite, and this was accepted December 2016, completed June 2017.
Service record states Died after Discharge, 25.9.1935.
Honour and Dignity restored.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.