Caldwell, William

Captain William Caldwell - 48th Battalion

William Caldwell was born on the 26th February 1892 to George and Kate Caldwell.

The family lived at 29 Louisa Street Fremantle and William was educated locally at Beaconsfield Primary School and then as he excelled at his studies he then went on to Scotch College in Claremont.

William again excelled and by his senior year was one of the prefects and also wrote for the Scotch College Reporter. He was also heavily involved in the school cadet programme. Prefect photo below courtesy Scotch College (William 2nd right front row and his good mate Robert Walker 2nd right in back row)

William Caldwell had been studying at the University of Western Australia and had been working as a school teacher and had also been awarded the 1916 Rhodes Scholarship.

Due to the Great War he delayed going to Oxford and instead joined up to the AIF. He first enlisted in July 1915 but then did an Officers training course and was assigned as a Second Lieutenant to the 14th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.

The Medical examiner recorded Williams details as;

Height - 5 Feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall

Weight - 123lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey

Hair - Light Brown

Religious Denomination - Presbyterian

This group departed from Fremantle on the 12th February 1916 aboard the HMAT Miltiades. The journey to Egypt took a few weeks and after arriving, instead of being assigned to the 16th Battalion he was sent to the newly forming 48th Battalion AIF.

William went with his Battalion to France in June 1916. They had a short period on the Western Front in the Armentieres sector but by early August 1916 they were in the Somme sector and about to take part in the advance from Pozieres towards Mouquet Farm.

On their first day in the front at Pozieres on August 6th, William was blown up by a shell and suffered wounds to his ankle as well as a dose of shell shock. 

After initial medical treatment William's wound was assessed as serious enough for evacuation to England. William remained at 3rd London General Hospital until 18th October 1916 when he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion at Perham Downs Camp. 

He was soon fit enough to proceed to France and rejoined the 48th Battalion on the 20th November 1916.

He remained with the Battalion for the next few months and in April 1917 was involved in the attack at Bullecourt. William was wounded for the 2nd time in the war when struck in the arm and thigh by shrapnel.

William would spend the next few months in hospital in France and in July 1917 was transferred to England for further treatment. He would remain in England recovering for the rest of 1917.

While in England he wrote back to his school;

"I was glad to observe in the “West Australian” that our first eighteen had put C.B.C down, a fact which I did not fail to draw the attention of Lieut. Cumming, who is also in hospital with me. We were amongst thousands of others who got hit at Pozieres. I got a small piece through the ankle and some of the back, but not serious. Remember me to all the “old boys” and all at Scotch."

In February 1918 William was found to be fir enough to return to his unit and on joining them was promoted to Captain. He served with the 48th Battalion through to August 1918 when he attended various schools of instruction and courses in England. He returned to France in October 1918 and after the war was over he was able to get to Balliol College Oxford  for his Rhodes Scholarship where he began his studies through 1919/20.

He returned to Fremantle WA on 3rd July 1920 and his appointment to the AIF was terminated in October 1920.

William came back to Fremantle in 1920 looking to resume his career as a teacher. However during the early 1920’s and 1930’s Caldwell went to Geneva to work for the League of Nations in the International Labour Office. He was a help to many Australians including the future Prime Minister John Curtin when they visited the International Labour Office and the League of Nations. William often performed the translating duties for visiting Australians.

Caldwell married Frenchwoman Berthe Rose Peccoud on 19 Jan 1924; and they went on to have two children, a son and a daughter.

He returned to Australia in 1940, having just escaped France with his family, prior to the Dunkirk action and was living in Victoria when he enlisted for service on the 11th October 1940.

He served in the Military HQ through the war years and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After World War Two was over William and his family returned to Switzerland and resumed living in Geneva. He resumed work for the International Labour Office and retired in 1953. Apart from a few visits to Australia he lived the rest of his life in Switzerland

William Caldwell died in Geneva in 1984.

Further information on Williams Career at the International Labour Office and League of Nations can be found below;

https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/caldwell-william-31016

https://www.mup.com.au/blog/the-australians-at-geneva-william-caldwell