William John Birdsall
Born 10 Jun 1894 - Died 22 Jun 1915
- Service number
- WWI 13/232 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW1 Trooper AWMM Auckland Mounted Rifles AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 10 Jun 1894 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW1 Whangateau, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW1 J.B. Birdsall, Whangateau, Rodney, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 16 Oct 1914 AWMM Single/WWI AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 13/232 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 16 Oct 1914-03 Dec 1914 AWMM
HMNZT 8 or HMNZT 12 AWMM Vessel was Star of India or Waimana AWMM Trooper AWMM Auckland Mounted Rifles AWMM Main Body AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 Trooper AWMM
Auckland Mounted Rifles AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- William Birdsall was the son of John Bowden Birdsall and Isabel Birdsall.
William is commemorated on the Matakana District war memorial. The inscription reads: 'This monument was erected by public subscription as a thanksgiving to almighty God for peace and victory and in memory of the men of this district who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. Their Duty Nobly Done. December 1919'
His rank is recorded as Private on the memorial.
Next of Kin: Mr J. B. Birdsall, Whangateau, Rodney (Roll of Honour, Auckland Province 1914-1918 (Volume 1)) AWMM - ===================================================================
William “Jack” was born 10 August 1894 on the family farm in Big Omaha (Whangateau) the son of John and Isabella. He is related to many familiar families in the Rodney area - Ashton, Darroch, Greenwood, Matheson and Smith.
Like many young men he was keen to enlist, joining the Auckland Mounted Rifles, 3rd Squadron and left with the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 16 October 1914. First to Egypt for several months of training, then on to the Gallipoli peninsula, arriving at ANZAC Cove on the 12th of May 1915, with Walker’s Ridge their next objective.
On the 14th of June “Jack” was moving down the Monash Valley (south of Walkers Ridge) when he was shot in the back by a Turkish sniper. Under fire, his comrades carried him down to the beach where he was transported to the Hospital Ship H.M.H.S. SOUDAN that took him to the Valletta Hospital in Malta.
On 22nd June 1915 he passed away as a result of his wounds and is buried at the Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta, 18,000 kms from home. Trooper Birdsall was only 20 years old.
He is remembered at the Matakana War Memorial and the Birdsall Family plot in the Whangateau Cemetery.
We will remember him.Public - Matakana - Researcher - 3 October 2017 - Military Personnel Records, NZ Archives, NZ Papers Past.
- William Birdsall was the son of John Bowden Birdsall and Isabel Birdsall.
About death
- Death
- 22 Jun 1915 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Died of wounds AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta AWMM A. V. 5. AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- TROOPER WILLIAM JOHN BIRDSALL, died of wounds on June 22. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Birdsall, of Big Omaha. (AUCKLAND STAR, 12 JULY 1915)
IN MEMORIAM. BIRDSALL - In loving memory of Trooper William John Birdsall (Jack), who died of wounds at Malta, June 22, 1915. ‘There is a link death cannot sever, a sweet remembrance lasts forever’ - Inserted by his cousin, C. Bond. (NZ HERALD, 27 JUNE 1916)Public - Sandra - Researcher - 30 October 2018 - Papers Past Online - Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Matakana War Memorial (King George war memorial statue), Matakana Wharf Reserve, Matakana Road, Matakana, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22311425
Further Reference - A Street Near You record
https://astreetnearyou.org/person/114879/-
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/114879
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 56 - Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 2: Includes portrait - Roll of Honour, Auckland Province (digital copy), 1914 - 1919. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2016-2.
- Nicol, C.G. (1921). The story of two campaigns: Official war history of the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment 1914-1919. Auckland, N.Z.: Wilson & Horton.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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