PURVES, William Richard Walter
| Service Number: | 211 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, An original of B Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 December 1893 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Geelong Grammar School, Melbourne University, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 27 April 1915, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 211, 5th Infantry Battalion, An original of B Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 211, 5th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 211, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne |
Help us honour William Richard Walter Purves's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
From his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file Purves “volunteered to join a small group of 20-50 men to be led by a Captain Clement of 5th Battalion, which went out on Monday 26 April, and most of them never returned or have been heard of since. Purves was reported as missing on 27 April 1915 and was not confirmed as killed in action until a Court of Enquiry declared it during November 1916.
His brother, 482 Lce. Cpl. Godfrey Purves 8th Light Horse Regiment was later killed in action at Anzac during the charge at the Nek 7 August 1915. Age 33.
A third brother, Captain Philip Brodribb Purves, of the North Staffordshire Regiment, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in rescuing a wounded lieutenant under fire in France. Enlisting on the outbreak of the war as a private in King- Edward's Horse, he was promoted to captain.
Click images to start slideshow.