William Alexander Beach

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 03/06/2016 - 09:46

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Alexander

Last Name:

Beach

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, August 9, 1881

Mother's Name:

Sarah Beach nee Duley

Father's Name:

William Beach

Date Enlisted:

Monday, September 21, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

4th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, July 8, 1937

Place of Death:

Canterbury Hospital, Sydney

Details:

William Beach (Service No 1034) was born in Dapto, N.S.W. and attended Dapto Public school. William was one of 12 children and the son of world champion sculler, William Beach.

At enlistment William was single, 33 years old and employed as a labourer. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with A Company, 4th Battalion, as part of the first contingent on 20th October 1914. After arriving in Egypt he was sent on to Gallipoli and landed on the 25th April.

On 8th June 1915 he was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli after becoming ill, and returned to his unit on 7th August 1915.

After the evacuation of Gallipoli he was sent to France arriving there on 30th March 1916. Soon after, on 13th April 1916, William was admitted to hospital with the mumps ; he returned to his unit on 13th May 1916.

William was wounded in action on 22nd July 1916 at Pozieres and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his left ankle.

He was returned to Australia in October 1917 and discharged medically unfit on 11th January 1918 as a result of his wounds.

In 1923 he married Maud Findlay and they had one child.

William died in Canterbury hospital in 1937 and is buried at Woronora Cemetery.

William's brother, Harrie Gibbons Beach, also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BEACH W A