Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''

Like a great proportion of hte ANZACs William Greenwood was not 'native born' hailing from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.

Describing himself as a 26 year old married labourer, resident at 11 Gordon Street Brighton le Sands on enlistment in February 1915, William Greenwood's next of kin was listed as his wife, Mrs Ideal Horrel Greenwood, at that stage resident C/- of a Mrs Boxsell (presumably her mother) of Melrose via Cootamundra.

He enlisted in February and was assigned to A Company of the 18th Battalion, which was to become part of the 2nd Division in the 5th Brigade.  Ships bearing the 2nd Division departed through May and June from the main Australian ports and disembarked in Egypt where consolidation took place.

The 18th Battalion landed at Gallipoli on the 20th August and the very next day they were thrown into the attack on Hill 60.  William was wounded in the attack having been ashore barely 48 hours.  His wound was described as GSW (which could alternatively mean Gun Shot Wound or General Shrapnel Wound) right buttock and thigh, graded 'severe', probably on 21 August.  He was evacuated and then admitted to hospital in Alexandria on the 22 August 1915. He was transferred to England on the Hospital Ship 'Gloucester Castle'.  On 12 October 1915 he was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, 24 October 1915. He did not rejoin the unit in France until 6 July 1916 immediately prior to Pozieres  / Moquet Farm.

William was later commissioned and returned to the Battalion where he remained until the end of the war.

He arrived back in Australia in January 1919.

Records indicate that he passed away in July 1952.