Note incorrect spelling of surname on AWM documents.
William George Attfield
First Name:
William
Middle Name:
George
Last Name:
Attfield
Mother's Name:
Caroline Attfield nee Lutman
Father's Name:
William Attfield
Date Enlisted:
Monday, July 19, 1915
Rank at Enlistment:
Private
Rank at Discharge:
Private
Unit:
30th Battalion
Company:
D
Service:
Infantry
Awards:
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death:
Thursday, November 12, 1959
Place of Death:
St Peters Hospital, Somerset, England
Details:
William Attfield (Service No 818) was born in Godalming, Surrey, England around 1894 and arrived in Australia around 1912.
At enlistment William was single, 21 years old, employed as a labourer, and lived at Bellambi, N.S.W.
He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A72 Beltana with D Company, 30th Battalion on 9th November 1915. William arrived in Egypt on 11th December 1915 where he served until being sent to France, arriving on 23rd June 1916.
On 19th/20th July 30th Battalion were fighting at Fromelles, D Company was tasked with repairing communications, prisoner escorts and traffic control of the trenches. While engaged in these activities William was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital for treatment of gun shot wounds to his back and neck. He did not return to his unit until 29th December 1916.
William saw service on the Western Front until he was wounded a second time, on 26th September 1917 at Polygon Wood and was evacuated to hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds to both legs and shoulder.
While in England he married Hilda Rossiter at Middlesex on 14th December 1917.
William returned to Australia in December 1918 and was discharged from the AIF.
In 1921 William was involved in a serious accident at the Bulli mine and had part of his leg amputated. Some time later he returned to England where he died in 1959.
William is Commemorated on the Corrimal-Bellambi Honour Roll.
Sources:
NAA: B2455, ATTFIELD W G
