MCCARTHY, William Henry
| Service Numbers: | 1707, NX20639, N77400 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Stuart Town via Wellington, NSW, 31 January 1900 |
| Home Town: | Wellington, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Blayney Hospital, Blayney, 5 March 1960, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Millthorpe Cemetery Catholic Portion |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1707, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1707, 54th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1707, 54th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX20639 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, N77400 |
Help us honour William Henry McCarthy's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Military Medal
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations at Peronne on 1-2 September 1918. When two Companies were held up this man repeatedly carried messages through heavy enemy machine gun fire. Wounded early in the attack and a second time in the afternoon, he refused to leave his Company, continuing to carry messages until utterly exhausted from the loss of blood. He set a splendid example of courage and untiring energy throughout the whole operations". Recommended by J.C. Stewart, Brigadier General Commanding 14th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919
William returned to Australia in July 1919. He moved to Millthorpe where he met his future wife, Esther Bowd. The couple married and had ten children: two daughters and eight sons. Heserved in the Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II. His eldest son, Ray, also served, and was mentioned in despatches.
William died in 1960, aged 60. His obituary in the Central Western Daily, 7 March 1960, describes him as “one of the best known identities of Millthorpe.”
William’s name appears on the Millthorpe War Memorial alongside that of his son, Ray.
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