William Colvin

Name    William Colvin

Number    Lieutenant  860

Battalion      8^th Battalion  

Place of Birth   Rutherglen 

Next of Kin   His father, James Colvin of ‘Narrong’ Rutherglen

Date and place of enlistment  18/8/1914 at Broadmeadows

Physical details on enlistment Age 21 years 3 months, 5’8 ½”, 173 pounds, light blue eyes, fair hair.

Religion   Presbyterian

Occupation   School teacher, woodwork

Date and place of death

He was killed in action 25/7/1916 at Pozieres

Location of grave or memorial

He was buried 500 yards north of Pozieres and later moved to Villers Bretonneux

Relationship to Woorayl Shire

He taught at Leongatha High School for some time in 1914 before going to Warragul High School. He left there to join the army.

Military History

• 18/8/14 He enlisted in Rutherglen
• 25/8/14 He was a Private in H company 8^th Battalion
• 17/9/14 He became a Corporal
• 19/10/14 He embarked Melbourne on the HMAT Benella
• 3/4/15 He embarked Alexandria to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
• 29/12/15 He was ill in hospital on Lemnos with flu
• 13/1/16 He rejoined his battalion at Tel-el-Kebir
• 10/2/16 He became a Sergeant
• 20/2/16 He became a 2^nd Lieutenant
• 26/3/16 He embarked Alexandria
• 31/3/16 He disembarked Marseilles
• 25/7/16 He was killed in action

Letter to father

• He was wounded before the objective but carried on to the objective and died almost immediately. He was 500 yards north of Pozieres and buried in the presence of a chaplain. Later in Villers Bretonneux
• He left his estate to his father in his army will page 11 of his file
• His effects were: – 1 electric torch, letters and papers, 1 pair puttees, 1 hold all, 3 shirts, socks, gloves, a pair of shorts, pair slacks, 1 drill tunic, safety razor and case, muffler, note book, films, 1 silver watch, 1 silver match box, 1 penny, 1 knife • 16/6/17 James Colvin received the effects.
• 8/3/23 His father received Bill’s medals
• 8/9/33 His father received his British War Medal