HANSFORD, William King Charles
| Service Number: | 644 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Williamstown (Vic), Hobsons Bay, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Williamstown State School, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Multiple GSW, No. 5 General Hospital, Rouen, France., 30 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Grave P II K 3B INSCRIPTION MY DEAR SON DUTY NOBLY DONE , St Sever Cemetery Extension, Haute-Normandie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Williamstown Pictorial Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 644, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 1915: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2) | |
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 644, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 644, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 12 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 21st Infantry Battalion, TSgt 16/4/1917 to 3/4/1917 | |
| 3 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 644, 21st Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), T Sgt, GSW to chest (penetrating), arm and leg. |
Help us honour William King Charles Hansford's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Joseph and Christina HANSFORD
Military Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and skill in charge of a Lewis Gun during the attack at MOUQUET FARM on the 26th August, 1916. Taking up a position well forward of our line he maintained his gun in action throughout the day in spite of very heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire, and was of the greatest value to the infantry in consolidating the captured position at 77.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917
Silver Medal (Serbia)
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
HOLDER OF MEDALS DIES
Advice has been received , by Mrs C. Hansford, of 12 Albert street
North Willianistown, that her son, Sergeant William Hansford who
left Victoria with the 21st Battalion, machine-gun section, has died in
No. 5 General Hospital. France, front the effects of gunshot wounds
in the lung, arm and leg. Sergeant Hansford, who was only 23 years of age, enlisted In May 1915. He was on board the Southland when that vessel was torpedoed. He went through the Gallpoli campaign, and was engaged in several heavy battles in France. Sergeant Hansford received the Military Medal for bravery on the battlefield, and was also the holder of the Serbian Silver Medal.
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 23 and the son of Christina McIntosh Hansford, of 12, Albert St., Williamstown North, Victoria, Australia, and the late Joseph James Hansford.
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