Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.
please scroll down to send a message
Pte. William Shields
Australian Imperial Force 11th Battalion
from:Kirupp, Western Australia
William Shields, (a sleeper cutter in the forests of SW Western Australia), enlisted from Blackboy Hill, Western Australia at the outbreak of World War 1 on the 23rd September 1914.
As a member of the Australian Imperial Force 11th Battalion, Bill, after training in Egypt, landed on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. After much sickness and injuries he was admitted to Heliopolis on the 28th November 1915, to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Egypt, whereupon a telegram is sent to William's mother Mary in Tasmania informing her that her son is dangerously ill and series of correspondence issue hence forth.
On the 19th December 1915 Bill is reported to be out of danger, and is invalided to Australia embarking on HMS Commonwealth at Suez, to return to Australia for 3 months change. Bill disembarked at Fremantle on the 22nd February, 1916 and was discharged on 9th June 1916 after serving 298 days.
He re-enlisted at Blackboy Hill on the 10th September 1917, Regimental No 8042 (previously 983) with the rank of Private in the 11th Battalion, 27th Reinforcements. His age was recorded as 26 years 8 months, and marital status single. William endured the battles and life on the Western Front in Belgium and France until once again injured wounded in action on the 26th August 1918 with a bayonet wound to the left thigh and was invalided to the United Kingdom on the same day, admitted to Boscombe Hospital, Hants.
William Shields embarked for Australia per Morvada on 4th January 1919, after Armistice had been signed and he had repatriated in an English hospital. William Shields or Bill as he was known to his mates was awarded 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial plaque
