William Edward Wyard

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
Edward
Last Name: 
Wyard
Date of Birth: 
Friday, December 14, 1888
Mother's Name: 
Kate Wyard nee O Neill
Father's Name: 
George Wyard
Date Enlisted: 
Friday, March 10, 1916
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
36th Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Monday, December 9, 1946
Place of Death: 
Ryde, N.S.W.
Details: 

William Wyard (Service No 1879) was born in Nyngan, N.S.W.

In early 1900, William, age 12, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for saving a boy from drowning in December 1899.

At enlistment he was 30 years of age, single, worked as a carpenter, and lived at Corrimal, N.S.W.   William had served 12 months in the St George Rifles Militia at Corrimal.

William enlisted 7 months after his brother Harry (Service No 1695).  

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A15 Port Sydney with 2nd Reinforcements, 36th Battalion, on 4th September 1916.  The troops arrived in England on 29th October 1916, and William was sent on to join 36th Battalion in France on 18th January 1917.

He saw service on the Western Front and on 30th April 1918 was transferred to 35th Battalion and served out the rest of the war with them.

While in England William met his future wife, Emily Arden, whom he married on 22nd September 1919 at Coventry. 

William was returned to Australia in December 1919 and discharged on 26th March 1920.  William and Emily returned to Australia and raised a family of 8 children.

William died in 1946 and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

 

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, WYARD W E