William Murray Salisbury

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
Murray
Last Name: 
Salisbury
Date of Birth: 
Sunday, August 10, 1884
Mother's Name: 
Margaret Salisbury nee Murray
Father's Name: 
John Salisbury
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, August 17, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Corporal
Rank at Discharge: 
Sergeant
Unit: 
55th Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, January 27, 1954
Place of Death: 
Concord, N.S.W.
Details: 

William Salisbury (Service No 89) was born in Bulli, N.S.W. and attended Woonona Public School.  In 1906 he married Martha Bradley.

At enlistment William  was 30 years old, worked as a labourer, and lived at Woonona, N.S.W.  He had served 4 years in the Militia.  

William embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with A Company, 3rd Battalion, as a Corporal on 19th October 1914.  He arrived in Egypt and landed on Gallipoli on 25th April.

On 1st May 1915 William was promoted to Sergeant in the field and served with A Company, 3rd Battalion until the evacuation.

On 13th February 1916 he was transferred to 55th Battalion when the new battalion was formed from old 3rd battalion veterans and new recruits.  

He served in Egypt until 55th Battalion was sent to France, arriving there on 29th June 1916.  William was admitted to hospital sick on the day the battalion arrived in France and did not return to his unit until 15th August 1916, so he did not take part in the battle of Fromelles.

William saw service on the Western Front until 2nd September 1918 when he was wounded in action at Peronne and admitted to hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds to his shoulder and thigh.  He returned to his unit on 9th September 1918.

William returned to Australia in October 1918 for special 1914 Leave but the war ended while he was at sea and he was discharged on 24th February 1919.

William and Martha had 7 children.

William died at Concord, N.S.W. in 1954.

William Salisbury is commemorated on the Woonona Public School Roll of Honour

along with his brother John who enlisted a few days after William.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, SALISBURY WILLIAM MURRAY

Comments

As another year go's by an our troops finally come home I would like to thank you once again for taking the time to remember my great grand father.
I will also be remembering my great grand father , and grand father with a drive way tribute to them.
Thank You once Again.
sincerely Phillipa Salisbury