The AIF Project

William Nelson SPRATLEY

Regimental number5473
Place of birthPortsmouth, England
SchoolNelson, British Columbia
Age on arrival in Australia20
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationBlacksmith
Address11 Lily Street, Fremantle, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinMother, Mrs A C Spratley, Spearswood, Fremantle, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment dateNO ENTRY
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll4 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name16th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/33/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 17 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll16th Battalion
FateDied of wounds 23 June 1918
Place of death or woundingAmiens, France
Age at death23
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialSt. Pierre Cemetery (Plot XIII, Row E, Grave No. I), Amiens, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
81
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Annie Constance SPRATLEY, 10th Avenue, Tauranga, New Zealand
Medals

Military Medal

'Is brought to notice for his bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 11th April 1917 in bringing in out of "No Man's Land" his Company Sergeant-Major under very heavy shell and machine gun fire. This man also displayed coolness and gallantry and utter contempt for danger both during the assault and afterwards in the heavy bomb fighting which took place after a footing had been established in the HINDENBURG Line. He is recommended for distinction.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917

Family/military connectionsUncle: John Charles Spratley, 11th Battalion AIF, died in Egypt.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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