William Alexander WAUGH DCM

Badge Number: 22518, Sub Branch: Marion
22518

WAUGH, William Alexander

Service Numbers: 1273, S764
Enlisted: 12 March 1916
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: General Hospitals - WW2
Born: Broken Hill, New South Wales, 18 September 1894
Home Town: Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Drover
Died: Natural Causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 24 September 1967, aged 73 years
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Memorials: Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour, Broken Hill St. Andrews Church Honour Roll
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World War 1 Service

12 Mar 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1273, 3rd Pioneer Battalion
6 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1273, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne
6 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1273, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: ''
11 Nov 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1273, 11th Field Ambulance
16 Jan 1920: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1273, 11th Field Ambulance

World War 2 Service

28 Dec 1940: Enlisted Private, S764, Keswick, South Australia
28 Dec 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, S764
29 Dec 1940: Involvement Corporal, S764
24 Jul 1944: Discharged Corporal, S764, General Hospitals - WW2
24 Jul 1944: Discharged Corporal, S764, General Hospitals - WW2

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Biography

DCM citation as per Service Record: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer. When another unit moving up the line lost four men, wounded, and five killed from severe shelling, he rushed through the barrage and bound up their injuries, which without immediate attention would have resulted in death. Then improvising stretchers, he removed them to a place of greater safety.'

Services Medals: 1914/15 Star: British War Medal: Victory Medal

"DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL. LANCE-CORPORAL W. A. WAUGH.

Lance-corporal W. A. Waugh, the only son of the late Mr. W. A. Waugh, of Wolfram-street, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services on the battlefield of Flanders. Lance-corporal Waugh sailed from Melbourne in June, 1916, with the 3rd Australian Pioneers. In a letter to his mothers and sisters, written in France on December 21, Lance-corporal Waugh states:-

"I have not been on leave yet. I was told that I would be sent to England to bo decorated at Buckingham Palace, but instead I was presented with the colors of General Birdwood about three weeks ago at Neuve Eglise. I do not know when I will get the medal, but I am not worrying about it at present. I have done my best since being over here. I have been decorated with the next highest field decoration to the V.C. If I get an opportunity I am going to show the mugs in the Hill that 'Waughie' is as good as anything left there. I am enclosing the ribbon General Birdwood pinned on my breast. It will be a great souvenir for mum." - from the Broken Hill Barrier Miner 21 Apr 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"SOLDIERS' LETTERS.FROM THE FRONT AND ABROAD. LANCE CORPORAL W. A. WAUGH, D.C.M.

Lance-corporal W. A. Waugh, D.C.M., writes to his mother and sisters from France, under the date of December 21, 1917, as follows:

"Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and well. I have not yet seen Sylvio Mars, but his unit is camped about four miles away from mine. I may yet dig him up. I have not seen Bill Davies for months past, and I cannot make out where he has got to. I have seen the 43rd Battalion, and there are very few Broken Hill lads left in it. I have received several parcels from relatives in England, and I do not think we will put in a bad Christmas with champagne at seven francs a bottle. It has been snowing here for the past four days, and it is very cold. I am still waiting for the promised socks. I have been told that they were forwarded, but as yet the parcels have not come to hand." - from the Broken Hill Barrier Miner 21 Apr 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"Private W. A WAUGH, son of Mrs. and the late Mr. W. A. Waugh of Broken Hill, his beenawarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as a stretcher-bearer. When another unit moving up to the line lost four men wounded and five killed from severe shelling, he rushed through the barrage and bound up their injuries, which without immediate attention would have resulted in death. Then, improvising stretcher-bearers, he removed them to a place of safety. He is a nephew of Mr. A. Waugh, Norwood, whose only three eligible sons have enlisted." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 21 Jun 1918 (nla.gov.au)

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