Acton, William Joseph
193 Private William Joseph Acton - 28th Battalion & 7th Field Company Engineers
William Joseph Acton was born in Adelaide South Australia on the 21st December 1894 to Susan and John Acton. He was one of several siblings and the family soon moved across to Western Australia, taking up residence in Chester Street South Fremantle.
He was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up work as a Sleeper Hewer.
On the 2nd March 1915 William enlisted into the AIF at Perth. The medical examiner found him to be fit for service and recorded his details as; height of 5 feet 5 & 3/4 inches tall, weight of 144lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches, medium dark complexion; grey eyes and dark brown hair.
After his successful enlistment he spent some time in the training camp but on the 2nd June 1915 was assigned to B Company of the 28th Battalion AIF.
The 28th Battalion soon departed from Fremantle bound for Egypt. In September 1916 the 28th Battalion arrived at Gallipoli and not long after arriving William was hit in the head by shrapnel, fortunately not killing him, but it was a serious enough wound for him to be evacuated to hospital in Malta.
William recovered quickly and re-joined the Battalion at Anzac in November 1915. In December 1915 the Anzac battlefield at Gallipoli was evacuated and the men were returned to Egypt.
William was soon transferred to the 7th Field Company Engineers and he remained with them for the rest of the Great War. Fortunately he was not wounded again but did have a few periods of illness which necessitated time in hospital in England.
William returned to WA in January 1919 and was discharged from the AIF.
His brother Frank also served in the Great War with the 16th Battalion and survived to return home in 1919.
On his return from the war, William continued living in Fremantle and returned to work at Fremantle Harbour.
In 1920 he married Lily Ashton in Fremantle. In 1924 they had a daughter called Olive.
The family then moved to Hope Street White Gum Valley.
In 1936 he had an accident on a ship at north wharf when his hand was crushed between two pieces of timber with the tops of his fingers nearly severed. However quick medical assistance saved him from further damage.
William died in Fremantle on April 4th 1938 aged just 44 years old. He had been walking with his bicycle along Wray Avenue and when he reached the corner of Hampton Road he collapsed. Despite medical aid at the nearby Fremantle Hospital he died.
He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery.