William John Kirkup

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
John
Last Name: 
Kirkup
Mother's Name: 
Nichola Kirkup nee Skimming
Father's Name: 
Thomas Kirkup
Date Enlisted: 
Sunday, March 7, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Sergeant
Unit: 
19th Battalion
Company: 
D
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
Military Medal
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, April 8, 1931
Place of Death: 
Sydney
Details: 

William Kirkup (Service No 1222) was born in London in September 1894 and arrived in Sydney in 1913.

At enlistment he was single, 22 years old, employed as a clerk, and was living at Bulli, N.S.W.  He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 19th Battalion, D Company, on 25th June 1915.

Although William's papers in his National Archives file do not give dates of his arrival in Egypt or on Gallipoli, he was recommended for the Military Medal on 24th August 1915.  His Military Medal was awarded on 18th June 1916 and the citation reads:

"1222 Pte. T.J. Kirkup who, on 24th August, 1915, near "W" Hills, Gallipoli, when it was found necessary to establish communication between Battn H.Q. and a Company, although wounded, crossed the open and returned, under a very heavy rifle fire." London Gazette Dated 27th October 1916.

William was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli with debility on 24th November 1915 and sent to Egypt for treatment.  

William returned to duty on 9th March 1916 and was sent to France where he served with 61st Battalion. He saw service on the Western Front until he was wounded in action on 14th November 1916 when he was treated for a gun shot wound to his forearm.  

On 30th June 1917 William was promoted to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal on 9th July 1917.

On 13th November 1917 he was returned to 19th Battalion.

William was promoted to Sergeant on 29th August 1918 at which time he was recovering from a gun shot wound to his right thigh received while in action on 18th March 1918.

He returned to France and was wounded again on 2nd October 1918 when he was evacuated to hospital for treatment of gun shot wounds to his hand arm and thigh.

William was returned to Australia in August 1919 and discharged on 12th October 1919.   In 1924 he married Wilhelmine Dawson in Sydney.

William died at the age of 36 in Sydney and is buried at Manly.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, KIRKUP WILLIAM JOHN