The AIF Project

William DUNCAN

Regimental number2622
Place of birthSouth Melbourne, Victoria
SchoolState School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address673 Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 6"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs Ruby Sampson, Reservoir View, Malmsbury, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date2 August 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name23rd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/40/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll58th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 14), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
165
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Janet DUNCAN. Native of South Melbourne
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to, and proceeded to 5th Bn from 6th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 23 February 1916; taken on strength of 58th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 23 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916.

Found guilty, at sea, 21 June 1916, of disobeying an order in that he was smoking on a troop deck: awarded forfeiture of 4 days' pay.

Disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 September 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 961103, 3239 Pte C.E. BRIANT, C Company, 58th Bn, 23 December 1916: 'On the night of the 19/20th July 1916, during our attack at Fleurbaix, he was killed outright by [a] bullet, hit in [the] head. This happened in "No Man's Land". I was alongside him when it happened. We were taken Prisoners of War when it happened. His body was left on the field.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DUNCAN William
Red Cross file 961103

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.