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Australia

William was the son of William Lennox CLELAND & Matilda Lauder BURTON and was born on the 19th of July 1882 in Burnside, SA.

His parents were married on the 21st of June 1877 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

His father was the son of John Fullerton CLELAND & Elizabeth GLEN and was born on the 18th of January 1847 in his father’s missionary in Hong Kong.
His mother was the daughter of John Hill BURTON & Isabella LAUDER and was born in 1849 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

William was the youngest child born into this family of 2 children.

William’s father had immigrated to South Australia with his family at the age of 7 on board the Gloucester on the 13th of August 1852 and they settled in a prefabricated home brought out from India by Edward Gleeson on a property dubbed "Gleeville", at 1 Dashwood Road, Beaumont, Burnside.

He was educated in Adelaide and afterwards studied in Switzerland, England, and Edinburgh, where he married William’s mother; Matilda.

Williams’s mother was the daughter of John Hill BUTON, who was a well known Scottish advocate, historian and economist.

His parents then returned to South Australia and his father found a lucrative practice in Adelaide and the family lived in Beaumont, Burnside.
William’s brother; John was born on the 22nd of June 1878 in Norwood and then his father was appointed Resident Medical Officer at the Parkside Lunatic Asylum in December 1878 and Assistant Colonial Surgeon in 1879.

In 1896 he was appointed Acting Colonial Surgeon and the position was made permanent six months later.

William attended Prince Alfred College and then went to the University of Adelaide to study Science and whilst there he joined the University Cadets.
In December 1900 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science

When William’s grandfather; John Fullerton CLELAND died in 1901 William’s father; William Lennox CLELAND, became the head of an ancient Ayrshire family - the Cleland’s of Cleland, who were related to the great Scottish patriots, William WALLACE and Robert BRUCE.

At the age of 19, William enlisted into the 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse on the 21st of April 1902 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 14 and posted to A Squadron, 1 Troop.

He was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant and the Contingent, comprising 13 officers and 232 others, with 250 horses, embarked from Port Adelaide on board the transport St. Andrew on the 26th of May 1902.
Five days into their voyage the Boers surrendered and signed the Treaty of Vareeniging.

William and his Battalion disembarked in Durban on the 19th of June and 2 weeks later, on the 1st of July they embarked for Australia on board the transport Manchester Merchant.
They and arrived in South Australia, via Albany, on the 24th of July and the William was discharged from service on the 9th of August 1902, when his Battalion was disbanded.

The following year he joined the South Australian Scottish Infantry (originally G Company, 2nd Battalion Adelaide Rifles with the rank of Lieutenant.

William first gained employment as a mining engineer in Coolgardie, WA before returning to Adelaide.
Then in January 1906 he gained employment in Broken Hill and the following year he was employed in the Stannary Hills Tin Mine in Queensland.

He then successfully applied for Register and Instructor of the School of Mines position in Pt Pirie in January 1908.
He was successful in securing this position and before he moved to Pt Pirie he married Amelia Adelaide Louise BEASLEY on the 5th of February 1908 in St Bartholomew’s Church, Norwood, SA.
Amelia was the daughter of Richard Charles BEASLEY & Wilhelmina SCHULZE and was born on the 21st of Mach 1882 in Paradise, SA.

Sadly their first child was a little girl and she was stillborn on the 5th of October 1910 in Pt Pirie.

In 1913 William resigned his position to go to England to pursue studies in Metallurgy.

They then welcomed Millicent Lauder into the family on the 18th of January 1914 in Marton, Yorkshire, England and was born with Spastcity.

Just 3 months later, Amelia died on the 15th of April 1914 in Marton, Yorkshire, England and William buried her in the St Cuthbert’s Churchyard Cemetery.
With the death of his wife and a 3 month old little girl, William returned to South Australia on board the Otranto on the 30th of May 1914.

With the outbreak of WW1, aged 33, William enlisted into the AIF on the 1st of April 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was posted to the newly formed 3rd Pioneer Battalion with the rank of Captain.
He left little Millicent with his parents and entrained to Melbourne on the 1st of April and began detailed training at Campbellfield shortly after.

William embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on the 6th of June 1916, sailed via Capetown and disembarked in Plymouth on the 26th of July and marched into Camp 4, Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

William proceeded to France on the 25th of March 1917 and served there before he was wounded at Mont St.Quentin on the 6th of September 1918.

On the 17th of September, whilst in hospital, William was recommended for the Military Cross for displaying the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty, combined with engineering skills in all his work.
“His remarkable and untiring efforts, coolness and determination, and his marked ability, resulted in the successful completion of all work entrusted to him.
During the recent operations on September 5th, when the Battalion was engaged as infantry, this officer showed conspicuous gallantry when in command of a Company.
During the advance on Burie Wood, immediately in front of Tincourt, was found to be strongly held by the enemy machine guns.
Without hesitation this gallant Officer, although wounded earlier in the attack, led his Company forward, mopped up the wood and captured 2 machine guns and 4 prisoners.
His absolute fearlessness, courage and cheerfulness in the face of great difficulties, has on many occasions, set a magnificent example to all ranks under his command”.
However, he was awarded to Croix de Guerre instead.

Unfortunately, whilst he was in hospital, his father died on the 5th of November 1918.

He was granted was granted 8 months leave to attend a course on Blast Furnace Practice at Bolckow, Vaugham & Co on the banks of the Tees in Middlesborough and during this time William married Marjorie HARBRON on the 18th of September 1919 in the Parish Church in Darlington, England.

Marjorie was the daughter of John HARBRON & Elizabeth BUCKTON and was born on the 3rd of April 1896 in Darlington, Durham, England.

William completed his course on the 7th of October and 3 weeks later they embarked from London on the 30th of October 1919 on board SS Wahehe, disembarked in Melbourne on the 13th of December and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

William was discharged from the AIF on the 13th of February 1920.

He then gained employment in mining operations in Newcastle, NSW and they moved to Kerr Street, Mayfield
They welcomed their first son; William Lauder, on the 28th of June 1920, followed by John Lennox, on the 9th of January 1922.
After 18 months they moved back to Sturt Place, Burnside where their stillborn daughter was born on the 1st of July 1924.

William was employed as an Engineer and building contractor and a few years later they welcomed their last son; James Lindsay, on the 30th of June 1928.

With the outbreak of WW2, their son William enlisted into the Field Engineers on the 24th of November 1939 (S14608). He was discharged on the 2nd of June 1941 and then enlisted into the RAAF (437610) and served with No.2 Squadron.

At the age of 59, William enlisted into the Volunteer Defence Corps on the 16th of May 1942 in Adelaide, SA and was allocated the service number S69791 and posted to A Company, 3rd Battalion, in Burnside.

Then their son John enlisted on the 5th of November 1942 (NX165410).

William was promoted to Acting Sergeant on the 12th of April 1943 and then on the 7th of February he was transferred to the 203 Search Light Battery.
Then on the 10th of August 1944, William was discharged at his own request.

William died on the 6th of October 1946 at his residence, Young Place, Beaumont and was buried 2 days later in the St George’s Church of England Cemetery, Magill; Section A, Row 4, Grave 5.

CLELAND.—The friends of the late Mr William Lauder Cleland, of Beaumont, are respectfully informed that his remains were peacefully laid to rest (privately) on Tuesday 8th, in St. George's Cemetery, Magill.
Rev. C. F. Hall officated.
GEO. DOWNS & SON, Funeral Directors, 67 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide.

The Cleland Conservation Park was named after his brother; Sir John Burton CLELAND who was a renowned naturalist, microbiologist, mycologist and ornithologist, and member of the Royal Society of South Australia. After a career in medicine and pathology, he became keenly interested in wildlife conservation.

Military

Boer

At the age of 19, William enlisted into the 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse on the 21st of April 1902 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 14 and posted to A Squadron, 1 Troop.
He listed his father, of Beaumont, Burnside, as his next of kin.

He was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant and the Contingent, comprising 13 officers and 232 others, with 250 horses, embarked from Port Adelaide on board the transport St. Andrew on the 26th of May 1902.
Five days into their voyage the Boers surrendered and signed the Treaty of Vareeniging.

William and his Battalion disembarked in Durban on the 19th of June and 2 weeks later, on the 1st of July they embarked for Australia on board the transport Manchester Merchant.
They and arrived in South Australia, via Albany, on the 24th of July and the William was discharged from service on the 9th of August 1902, when his Battalion was disbanded.

He was awarded the Queen’s South African Medal.

WW1

At the age of 33, William enlisted into the AIF on the 1st of April 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was posted to the newly formed 3rd Pioneer Battalion with the rank of Captain.
He listed his father, of Beaumont, Burnside, as his next of kin.

He entrained to Melbourne on the 1st of April and began detailed training at Campbellfield shortly after.
In May the Battalion marched through the streets of Melbourne, before being presented with their unit colours.
They were subsequently laid up at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne prior to embarkation.

William embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on the 6th of June 1916, sailed via Capetown and disembarked in Plymouth on the 26th of July and marched into Camp 4, Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Between July and November they carried out intensive training to prepare them for their arrival on the Western Front.

During this time, on the 30th of September, a Divisional Sports Day was held and William competed in the tent pegging event with Colonel Lamb, Captain Nunn and Major Martin.

Unfortunately William suffered a penetrating wound to his right knee whilst competing in the event and was admitted into the Fargo Military Hospital.
Williams’s horse was late in starting and Colonel Lamb veered onto William’s peg s, but missed the peg and the rebound of his lance went straight into William’s knee.
The Court of Inquiry investigated and deemed the injury as an accident.

He returned to Larkhill Camp but his Battalion had already proceeded to France.

William was then admitted into the Cobham Hall Convalescent Hospital for 4 weeks on the 22nd of January 1917 suffering from the old wound.
On the 16th of February he was discharged to No.1 Command Depot in Perham Downs and the following day he was posted to No.6 & 7 Camos Details Camp.

William proceeded to France on the 25th of March 1917 and marched into the 3rd ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot) in Etaples.
On the 4th of April he rejoined his Battalion at Armentieres and they remained here until they moved to Ploegsteert in early June where they were engaged in preparing communication trenches and road repairs before moving into the Messines Sector on the 1st of July.
Here they were assigned to dig trenches in support of the attacking infantrymen, maintaining roads, supplying water, anti-aircraft defence and tramway maintenance.

On the 27th of July William was promoted to Captain and then on the 1st of September they moved from their quarters at Neuve Eglise to Steenwerck and entrained to Lumbres, bivouacked at Wavrans and went into training.
They spent just over 3 weeks here before marching to the Eeke area and then marched into the Ypres-Zonnebeke area where they were employed constructing mule tracks for the movement of ammunition and food supplies.

Then on the 4th of October they were tasked with maintaining communication and tracks for the Battle of Broodseinde.
After the Battle they were then tasked with repairing miles of roads and duckwalks and on the 12th of October William gained 12 days leave to England.
When he rejoined his Battalion they had moved to Wavrans and were in training and recreation.
They remained here until the 12th of November when they marched to Nieppr via Steenbecque and Steenje and relieved the Pioneer Battalion of the 8th Division in communication maintenance and trench drainage.

After 4 weeks here they moved to Dranoutre where they carried out work on the light and broad gauge railways.
Christmas 1917 was spent here and they remained here until the 28th of January when they moved back into billets at Nieppe and then worked on the Divisional front from south of the Lys River to north of the Douve River .
Then on the 9th of March they entrained to Desvres and marched into billets at Belle, where they commenced training.
Two weeks later they moved over a few days by route march, trains, busses and lorries to Heilly and then marched to Buire on the 31st of March.

This was the first time they had been in the Somme and they were tasked with the construction of emergency tracks, dugouts, switchlines, strong posts and wiring.
Three weeks was spent here before they moved to Ribemont and then onto Heilly and then by May they were located at La Motte.

William then gained 18 days leave to England on the 29th of June and when he rejoined his Battalion they were located near Corbie and in the front line as infantry.
Then with the attack on Accroche Wood scheduled for the 8th of August, they moved to Vaire to repair roads.
Three days later they moved to Morcourt and by the end of August they were at Etinehem and then withdrawn from the front line to Vaux.

On the 5th of September they moved to Mont St.Quentin and into the front line and the following day, whilst advancing forward in front of Tincourt, William suffered a Shot Gum Wound to his right leg and ankle. He was admitted into the 10th Australian Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station at Proyart and Ambulance Trained to the 8th General Hospital in Rouen.
The following day he was evacuated to England and admitted into the 3rd London General Hospital.

On the 17th of September, whilst in hospital, William was recommended for the Military Cross for displaying the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty, combined with engineering skills in all his work.
“His remarkable and untiring efforts, coolness and determination, and his marked ability, resulted in the successful completion of all work entrusted to him.
During the recent operations on September 5th, when the Battalion was engaged as infantry, this officer showed conspicuous gallantry when in command of a Company.
During the advance on Burie Wood, immediately in front of Tincourt, was found to be strongly held by the enemy machine guns.
Without hesitation this gallant Officer, although wounded earlier in the attack, led his Company forward, mopped up the wood and captured 2 machine guns and 4 prisoners.
His absolute fearlessness, courage and cheerfulness in the face of great difficulties, has on many occasions, set a magnificent example to all ranks under his command”.

After nearly 2 months in hospital he was discharged to the Overseas Training Brigade and even though the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November, William proceeded back to France 4 days later.

He spent the next 2 weeks at the 3rd ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot) in Etaples before rejoining his Battalion on the 3rd of December at Liercourt. They then moved to Huppy where William spent his last Christmas away from his little girl.

William marched out and embarked for England on the 10th of February and was posted to No.1 Convalescent Depot in Sutton Veny.
Two days later he was granted 8 months leave to attend a course on Blast Furnace Practice at Bolckow, Vaugham & Co in Middlesborough.

During this time William married Marjorie HARBRON on the 18th of September 1919 in the Parish Church in Darlington, England.

William completed his course on the 7th of October.

William and Marjorie embarked from London on the 30th of October 1919 on board SS Wahehe, disembarked in Melbourne on the 13th of December and entrained to Adelaide the following day.

William was discharged from the AIF on the 13th of February 1920 and awarded the Croix de Guerre, British War & Victory Medals.

WW2

At the age of 59, William enlisted into the Volunteer Defence Corps on the 16th of May 1942 in Adelaide, SA and was allocated the service number S69791 and posted to A Company, 3rd Battalion, in Burnside.
He listed his wife, of Beaumont, Burnside, as his next of kin.

He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on the 12th of April 1943 and then on the 7th of February he was transferred to the 203 Search Light Battery.
Then on the 10th of August 1944, William was discharged at his own request.