Pegg, David William

5411 Sergeant David William Pegg - 16th Battalion and Australian War Records Section

Born on the 22nd February 1893 in Heidelberg Victoria to George and Catherine Pegg. He was one of five siblings, with, Frederick (1895), Harry (1899), Magdaelene (1905) and Dorothy.

The family moved to Fremantle shortly after Harry's birth as he had been born in Canvas Town Fremantle in 1899. David was educated locally at White Gum Valley Primary School. During his early years, David served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. 

After leaving school he took up a clerical position with the WA Government Railways and the family was living at 64 Watkins Street South Fremantle (later renumbered 56).

On the 28th February 1916 David enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;

Weight - 9 stone;

Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Hazel;

Hair - Light Brown.

After his successful enlistment David was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to the depot training camp. He was then assigned to the Signalling School. He spent nearly a month there and on the 1st April 1916 was assigned to the 17th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion AIF. David only had a few weeks of training with them as the group received their embarkation orders. On the 17th April 1916 David and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Aeneas and set sail for Egypt.

After arriving in Egypt the men were disembarked and sent into the reinforcement camp. David never joined the 16th Battalion. Due to his clerical abilities he was instead assigned to the Australian Records Section.

This group's task was to collect the records of the Australian units. In 1917 this group became the Australian War Records Section and their task grew to collecting the objects and items that are today on display in the Australian War Memorial.

David worked in Egypt for the Australian Records Section until September 1916. He was then embarked for France and worked from the AIF base at Rouen.

He was promoted to Corporal in March 1917. from June to August 1917 he was a patient at the 1st Stationary Hospital at Rouen with orchitis. After recovery he returned to duty at the War Records Section and in 1918 was promoted to Sergeant.

David remained working in France until after the Armistice in November 1918. He was then sent to England and continued to work for the War Records Section at their office at Horseferry Road in London.

On the 1st August 1919 David boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire and set sail for home, disembarking in Adelaide on the 18th September 1919. He then returned home to WA and was discharged from the AIF on the 19th November 1919.

In 1922 in Leederville David married Helena Henryetta (Nell) McDougall. A son called Harry was born in 1928. The family were then living at Railway Terrace Maylands. David had resumed his pre-war career of a Clerk for the WA Government Railways.

David died in Perth aged 68 on the 3rd June 1961. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.