Fitzgerald, William Gregory

1260 Gunner William Gregory Fitzgerald – 14^th Field Artillery Brigade

William Gregory Fitzgerald was born in Fremantle WA in 1895 to Joseph and Helen Fitzgerald. He had his early years in Fremantle but then the family moved to the Perth suburb of Osborne Park where William completed his education. During that time he also served in the 88B (Perth) Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.

After leaving school William found work in the dairy industry and he worked as a dairyman until he enlisted. On the 16^th July 1915 he went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was found to be fit for service with the medical officer describing his physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 4 & ¾ inches;

Weight:                                    137lbs;

Chest Measurement:               35-37 inches;

Complexion:                            Dark;

Eyes:                                       Brown;

Hair:                                        Black;

Religious Denomination:         Roman Catholic;

Upon his successful enlistment William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was sent into the 16^th Depot Company. On the 16^th August 1915 he was transferred to “D” Company of the 32^nd Battalion AIF. WA formed C & D Companies of this unit while A & B were formed in South Australia. As a result the two WA Companies were transferred to Adelaide to join up with the rest of the battalion.

The 32^nd Battalion trained in SA for a few more weeks and then departed Port Adelaide on the HMAT Geelong. They arrived in Egypt on the 15^th December 1915 and they were sent to garrison a section of the Suez Canal defence line. The 32^nd Battalion was part of the 8^th Brigade and in March 1916 they formed part of the 5^th Division with the 14^th & 15^th Brigades. Due to the new 5^th Division needing men to form the ancillary units there were a lot of transfers taking place. Subsequently a number of the 32^nd Battalion men were transferred to the 14^th Field Artillery Brigade of the 5^th Division Artillery.

William was one of those who transferred and he was posted to the 53^rd Battery of the 14^th FAB. This unit would train in Egypt for the next three months and on the 20^th June 1916 they boarded the HMT Huntsend and set sail for France, disembarking at Marseilles on the 30^th June 1916.

After their arrival the 14^th FAB were sent north to the Fleurbaix sector near Armentieres. It was here on the 19^th July that the inexperienced gunners would support the 5^th Division infantry’s assault on Fromelles. Unfortunately the Fromelles assault was a failure but it provided invaluable experience for the Gunners.

William served with the 14^th FAB right through to the 12^th September 1917 when he was granted his first period of leave. He returned on the 24^th September and served with his unit at the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 4^th November 1917 William was evacuated to hospital due to gas poisoning. He was evacuated to England where he gradually recovered, however in January 1918 he was admitted to No.1 Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford with venereal disease. This would keep him in England for the next four and a half months.

On the 23^rd May 1918 William rejoined his unit near Villers-Bretoneux in France. On the 2^nd July he was sent to hospital suffering from influenza, rejoining his unit ten days later.

During the great Amiens offensive of the 8^th August 1918, Williams’ artillery battery was among the Guns providing fire support for the advance. The Germans sent over counter battery fire and William was badly wounded by shrapnel. He was initially sent to the 6^th Field Ambulance where they treated the worst damage which was to his left leg. He was transferred on to the 61^st CCS and then was put on an ambulance train to Wimereux, where he was admitted to the 14^th General Hospital.

William was then shipped to England for further treatment but unfortunately they were unable to save his leg and it had to be amputated. William subsequently spent the next several weeks in hospital recovering from the amputation. On the 30^th October 1918 he was now well enough to be granted a one week furlough. William was due to report to the 2^nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on the 5^th November but he overstayed his leave by four days. When William reported back on the 9^th November, as a punishment he had to forfeit four days pay.

When the Armistice was announced two days later William was still at No.2 AAH at Southall England. He would remain here for the last few weeks of 1918 though on the 20^th December he went absent without leave for a day and had to forfeit one day’s pay.

While in England, William met a girl from Nottingham, Elsie Malkin, and they got married on the 28^th January 1919.

On the 16^th March 1919 William and his wife boarded a transport ship which took them to Egypt. They then re-embarked at Alexandria on the Dunluce Castle which brought them to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 6^th May 1919.

They then resided In Fremantle through the 1920’s and then moved to the West Perth District.

William Gregory Fitzgerald died on the 12^th February 1962 and he was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.