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ETHEREDGE, William Walter

Subjects

  • WW1
Author: 
Jill Fenwick
WW1 Roll of Honour: 
Roll of Honour
Family name: 
ETHEREDGE
Given names: 
William Walter
Gender: 
Male
Religion: 
Presbyterian
Date of birth: 
1 September 1896
Place of birth: 
Birth Jolimont, Victoria
, Australia
East Melbourne addresses
Year: 
1914
1896
19 Charles Street
, Jolimont, Victoria
, Australia
37° 49' 4.8648" S, 144° 58' 51.5496" E
Military service: 
WW1
Regimental number: 
3182
Rank: 
Private
Military units: 
6th Field Ambulance
7th Field Ambulance
5th Field Ambulance
Military casualty: 
Killed in action
Date of death: 
1917
Place of death: 
Death Ypres
, Belgium
50° 51' 4.284" N, 2° 52' 36.8976" E
Decorations and medallions: 
1914-15 Star, British War Medal,Victory Medal
Decorations and medallions: 
Gallipoli Medallion
Decorations and medallions: 
Memorial Plaque
Biographical notes: 

William Walter Etheredge was born in Jolimont, but grew up in Traralgon, Victoria. He was the second of three sons, the youngest, Donald James Etheredge (27876), also volunteering, serving as a driver with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, 4th Division. The eldest brother, Alfred, was also in the military, though he appears not to have served in either the 1st or 2nd World War. William Etheredge was nineteen years and seven months old when he enlisted and had had previous experience in the CMF. He listed his occupation as carpenter, but had also worked with a local chemist, Mr. O.C. Challman, at Glengarry and also studied chemistry in Melbourne.

Bill Etheredge embarked on the Scotian on 30 August, 1915, and served with the 6th Field Ambulance, first at Gallipoli, then on the Western Front in France and Belgium, where he appears to have moved between the 7th, 6th and 5th Australian Field Ambulance. At various times, he suffered illnesses which saw him hospitalised: for 76 days in late 1916-early 1917 with enteric; with scabies in February 1917; with 'sycosis' (sic) of the neck in March 1917. He survived  the Gallipoli and French campaigns, but was killed after 2 years and 4 months active service at Passchendaele, part of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, on 27 September, 1917. According to family sources, he was returning from the dreesing station at Clapham Junction, when he and three companions were hit by a high explosive shell. Three, including Bill Etheredge, died on the spot, and one the next day. He was then 22 years old. This campaign, lasting from 21/7/1917 - 6/11/1917 resulted in nearly half a million casualties on both sides. The Australian forces had 76,836 casualties. William Etheredge is buried at the Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, Grave 11.B.9. His name is also listed in the Australian War Memorial, Panel 182 in the Commemorative Area.

In his last letter to his parents, dated 4 August, he had met up with his brother Don and 'had been having a really good time in the rest camp behind the lines. They had been so well fed that that they were fit for the strenuous times in front of them' reported the Gippsland Farmers Journal of 23/10/1917.

Eulogy 1 p.3 Gippsland Farmers' Journal 30 October 1917
Eulogy 2 p. 3 Gippsland Farmers' Journal 30 October 1917
Ambulance Corps. Messines, June 1917
William Walter Etheredge 1914
Acknowledgments: 

National Archives of Australia, WW1 Enlistments

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Trove: The Gippsland Farmers Weekly 23 October 1917, p.3 , Eulogy 30 October p.3

Etheredge Family Photograph of Bill Etheredge, sent from the front. 

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