ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

COLWILL, William James

COLWILL, William James

Full Name: William James

COLWILL

Date of Birth: 09

–

1886

Place of birth: Riverton

Australia

Occupation: Contractor

Address: Highbury WA

Next of Kin: Father-George Colwill, Mother-Mary Elizabeth Colwill

Next of Kin Address: Prospect SA

Religion: Church of England

Service Number: 2790

Rank: Private

Unit/Division: 39th Battalion

Enlistment Date: 1916-10-28

Enlistment Location: Bunbury

WA

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1916-12-29

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1917-03-03

Locations Served:

Returned: No

Discharge Date:

Cause of Death: KIA

Date of Death:

Place of Death: Passchaendale Belgium

Age at Death: 31

Burial Location: Inscribed Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium- No Known Grave

11/10/1916- Completed Medical Examination Narrogin WA
2/11/1916- To 92 Depot Company as Private
2/12/1916-To 39th Battalion 6th Reinforcements
21/03/1917-To 10th Training Battalion Larkhill England ex. Details Sutton Mandeville
11/05/1917-Admitted Parkhouse Military Hospital England ( Mumps )
29/05/1917-Rejoined 10th Training Battalion ex. Hospital
6/08/1917-Proceeded Overseas 3rd Aust Division Base Depot Rouelles France ex. Overseas Training Depot Perham Downs
22/08/1917-Joined 39th Battalion in the field France ex. No. 12 Camp Durrington ex. Folkestone
12/10/1917-Reported Missing In Action in the field Belgium
12/10/1917-KILLED IN ACTION- BELGIUM during the attack on Passchaendale ( Court of Enquiry Held )

 

Service Medals Awarded

British War Medal – No. 55056

Victory Medal – No. 54217

Memorial Plaque/Scroll – No. 341193

 

Memorial Inscriptions

Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium

Australian War Memorial Canberra – Panel No. 131

Narrogin War Memorial ,Western Australia.

 

Details of Soldier’s Death

Statement from Informant  No. 2887- ROBERTSON, Pte. A, 39th Battalion – 16 January 1918 – ” No. 2790, Pte. COLWILL, W. J.  was killed on the morning of  the 12th October in the attack on Passchaendale.  He was immediately behind  me when he was struck by a German Machine Gun bullet in the head.  Death was instantaneous.  We had only advanced about 400 yards  when this happened “.