William Alexander Beach

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
Alexander
Last Name: 
Beach
Date of Birth: 
Tuesday, August 9, 1881
Mother's Name: 
Sarah Beach nee Duley
Father's Name: 
William Beach
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, September 21, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
4th Battalion
Company: 
A
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Thursday, July 8, 1937
Place of Death: 
Canterbury Hospital, Sydney
Details: 

William Beach (Service No 1034) was born in Dapto, N.S.W. and attended Dapto Public school. William was one of 12 children and the son of world champion sculler, William Beach.

At enlistment William was single, 33 years old and employed as a labourer.  He embarked  from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with A Company, 4th Battalion, as part of the first contingent on 20th October 1914.  After arriving in Egypt he was sent on to Gallipoli and landed on the 25th April.

On 8th June 1915 he was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli after becoming ill, and returned to his unit on 7th August 1915.

After the evacuation of Gallipoli he was sent to France arriving there on 30th March 1916.  Soon after, on 13th April 1916, William was admitted to hospital with the mumps ; he returned to his unit on 13th May 1916.

William was wounded in action on 22nd July 1916 at Pozieres and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his left ankle.

He was returned to Australia in October 1917 and discharged medically unfit on 11th January 1918 as a result of his wounds.

In 1923 he married Maud Findlay and they had one child.

William died in Canterbury hospital in 1937 and is buried at Woronora Cemetery.

William's brother, Harrie Gibbons Beach, also served.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, BEACH W A