Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Mead was born in Clermont to William and Eliza Mead. For most of his life it appears that he went by the name of David to prevent confusion with his father. When David enlisted in Brisbane on 6th November 1915, he was 19 years and 9 months old. He reported his address as Strathpine and his occupation as labourer. Documents in his file note his previous employer as Queensland Government Railways. It is possible he was a ganger or fettler. David reported he was single and religion as Methodist.

David reported to Bell’s paddock, Enoggera and was placed into a depot battalion before being drafted into the 41st Battalion. The 41st was a new battalion being raised at Enoggera as part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Division and comprised of recruits from Queensland and Northern NSW. While in camp at Enoggera, David was promoted to the rank of corporal. Such a promotion for a young men who had just turned twenty was an indication that he was a good leader. The 41st Battalion took trains to Sydney to board the “Demosthenes”. The embarkation roll shows that David as a corporal was earning 9/- a day, of which 6/6d was allocated to his mother Eliza at Strathpine. Amongst the 41st was another Strathpine man, Luke Coe. It is possible that they knew each other.

The “Demosthenes” headed direct to England via Capetown and Sierra Leone and arrived in Plymouth on 20th July. The 41st were marched into a new camp on Salisbury Plain at Larkhill. Their arrival coincided with the arrival of the newly promoted commander of the 3rd Division; Major General John Monash. Monash’s task was to  train the division of 20,000 men as a complete battle group incorporating artillery, signals, administration, transport and medical.

The training at Larkhill continued at frenetic speed and word of the Australian commander who had fought so “gallantly” and “splendidly” at Gallipoli even reached the ear of the King.

Barely two months after taking control of the division, Monash would host King George V when he travelled down to Larkhill by royal train for an inspection. The march past of the division took two hours and during this time the King and Monash chatted amiably as they rested in their saddles and took the salute.

The 3rd Division were now ready to be deployed overseas but the timing of departure was delayed until the western front had closed down for the winter. It was not until late November 1916 that the division began to cross the channel. In spite of their intensive training, most of the men had never experienced action and Monash was determined that his fighting force would be gradually acclimatised to the rigours of trench warfare before any major assault. The 11th brigade would find itself rotating in and out of the line in the vicinity of Ploegsteert Wood (usually referred to as Plug Street), and engaging in limited trench raiding. David had a period away from the battalion with mumps.

In March 1917, while still in the areas south of Messines, David was promoted to temporary sergeant and spent two and a half weeks at sniping school. On 27th May he was promoted to sergeant. The campaign in Flanders began on 7th June with the blowing of 19 mines under the German lines on the Messines Ridge. The 11th Brigade was not involved in the advances that followed but rather performed support roles supplying rations, ammunition and trench supplies to the front. In late June, the 41st Battalion was subjected to 18 continuous days of artillery bombardment while strengthening the new front line near Warneton.

Once the Messines operation successfully removed the enemy from the high ground to the south of the Menin Road, the real campaign could begin, an advance towards the Passchendaele Ridge. In September, the Germans were pushed back in the battle of Menin Road, followed by the capture of Polygon Wood. The 41st were not involved in either of these actions but were being held back for the next assault. On 8th August, David mead was promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major (WO2). For the first part of September, he went off to a school of instruction for senior NCOs.

The 41st were lined up at the jumping off tapes on 4th October at the base of the Broodesinde Ridge. As the troops advanced in artillery formation under their own creeping barrage they were met by German infantry advancing up the reverse slope and walking into the allied barrage. Unaware of the other sides intentions, both the British and Germans had planned an operation for the same place and time. The 3rd and 2nd divisions AIF succeeded in gaining their objectives and then dug in on the new line.

On 12th October, a German howitzer shell landed on the line being held by “B” Company of the 41st. Three men were killed, one of which was ACSM David Mead. Subsequent enquiries made to the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Service revealed that David had been buried by Sergeant Rickerts, the battalion bandmaster, (Bandsmen operated as stretcher bearers when in the front lines) and a wooden cross was erected with details of the soldier buried marked in indelible pencil.

David’s mother would spend the next 12 months attempting to learn more of her son’s fate; in particular, the whereabouts of his personal effects. She also wrote to the battalion’s Methodist Chaplain. In another letter, Eliza Mead asked if some parcels she had sent to her son and which would have been in transit when he was killed could be returned. She was advised that the normal procedure in these circumstances was that the contents would be distributed amongst David’s comrades and that the writer was certain that such arrangements would meet with Eliza’s approval.

No trace of David Mead’s isolated grave could be found at the end of the war. He is instead commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres (now Ipers) where a ceremony is held each evening to commemorate the 54,000 soldiers who died in Flanders and have no known grave.

William's parents were Walter Henry Mead and Eliza Mary Berringer. He was living with his mother at Strathpine when he enlisted on 6 November 1915 and his occupation was listed as a labourer. William was killed in action, 12 October 1917.

MEAD.—In sad but loving memory of my dear son, Acting Sergeant-major W. D. Mead, killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge, October 12th, 1917.
Just as his life was brightest,
Just as his hopes were best.
His country called, he answered ;
In God's hands he rests.
Inserted by his loving mother and father, E.
and W. Mead, Sandgate.

MEAD.—In sad but loving memory of my dear brother, A.S.M. W D. Mead, killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge, October 12th, 1917.
Fond memory clings.
Inserted by his sister, Ethel.

MEAD.—In proud but loving memory of my dear brother, Dave, killed in action, 12th October, 1917.
Sweet to my memory, dear lo my heart,
Thoughts of you, Dave, will never depart,
And my years on this earth, be they many or few,
Will be years of longing, dear brother, for you.
Inserted by Louie Knight, Paddington.