GAY, William Leslie Morrison
| Service Number: | 785 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Maleny, Queensland, Australia, 9 June 1898 |
| Home Town: | Maleny, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Maleny State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Cerebrospinal meningitis, Buried at Sea from HMAT Wandilla (A62), 9 July 1916, aged 18 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Caloundra Shire of Landsborough WW1 Roll of Honour, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Maleny RSL War Memorial, Maleny Witta & District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 785, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 785, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 785, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne |
Help us honour William Leslie Morrison Gay's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 9th July…… William Leslie Morrison Gay was born at Lismore, New South Wales in 1898 (? compare with age stated at enlistment - Suggests he was really 17.5 years or younger).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 3rd January, 1916 as an 18 ½ year old, single, Farmer from Cedar Park, Maleny, via Landsborough, Queensland.
Private Gay was admitted to Base Hospital while in Camp in Australia on 4th February, 1916 with Pneumonia. He was discharged to duty on 28th February, 1916.
He was admitted to Clearing Hospital, Broadmeadows, Victoria on 8th May, 1916 with Influenza. He was discharged on 12th May, 1916.
Private William Leslie Morrison Gay, Service number 785, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 6th June, 1916 with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion “C” Company.
On 5th July, 1916 Private Gay was admitted to Ship’s Hospital suffering from Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. He was reported to be dangerously ill on 8th July, 1916.
Private William Leslie Morrison Gay died at 6.20 pm on 9th July, 1916 at Sea on board HMAT Wandilla (A62) from Cerebral Spinal Meningitis.
He was buried at Sea from HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 9th July, 1916. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/g---j.html
Click images to start slideshow.