William Herbert Schadel

Captain William Schadel (Service no. 1074) was the first of three Schadel brothers to enlist and the only one to return home. At the time of enlistment he was a single 19 year old blacksmith striker.

He embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses with H coy 13th Battalion on 22nd December, 1914. He saw service on Gallipoli and was promoted to Corporal on 28th May, 1915. After the evacuation he was promoted to Sergeant on 3rd December, 1915. On 1st February he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 45th Battalion on 6th February.

William saw service on the Western Front with 45th Battalion and on 16th June, 1916 promoted again to Lieutenant. On 26th October, 1916 he was promoted once more to Captain.

During late 1916 and most of 1917 there was a number of hospital admissions for illnesses. He was returned to Australia in September 1918 as part of the 1914 men for home leave.

The war ended and he was discharged on 23rd January, 1919. He was awarded the Military Cross for action on 27th August, 1917. The citation reads, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his post was attacked by a party of twenty enemy with a machine gun he went forward with a strong patrol at a critical moment, succeeding in driving them out and captured their gun. It was due to his quick appreciation of the situation and swift action that the attack was repulsed and the post remained intact.'

He was also mentioned in dispatches for his work as part of the last group to leave Gallipoli.

William's two brothers who also served are Ernest John (Service no. 2228) and George Edward (Service no. 1661).