13th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Australian Military Record
On researching his A.I.F. Military Record the following information was gleaned: William Meldrum was born at Albury, Hume, New South Wales, Australia. He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on 8 January 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales. He was 23 years and 11 months old and his occupation was given as a Station Hand.
At his medical at this time his description was given as:-
- Height – 5’9″
- Weight – 11st 6lbs
- Chest expansion 33″-36″
- Complexion – Fresh
- Eyes – Hazel
- Hair – Dark
- Religion – Presbyterian
- No marks or scars
The Timeline of his time in the army is as follows:-
- 22/8/1915 – Wounded in shoulder by gun shot wound at Gallipoli when the soldier in front of him Alexander John Fowlie was shot in the head and the bullet continued into the shoulder of Meldrum.
- Taken to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, Mudros West, Limnos, Greece where he stayed until 26 August 15.
- 26/8/1915 – Transferred to No.52 Lowland, Casualty Clearing Station, Mudros West, Limnos, Greece, this appears to be as a Convalescent Depot.
- 14/9/1915 – Discharged to O.C. Reinforcement, 11 Base Depot.
- 28/9/1915 – At 3rd Australian General Hospital, Lemnos, Greece with Influenza.
- 7/10/1915 – Transferred to 52 Lowland Casualty Clearing Station, Mudros West, Lemnos, Greece as a Convalescent Depot.
- 27/10/1915 – Discharged to Australian Rest Camp.
- 8/11/1915 – Promoted to Lance Corporal.
- 2/12/1915 – Alexander Meldrum following his return is ill with Pyrexia (fever) and he is aboard the Hospital Ship- Gloucester Castle A/103.
- 11/12/1915 – Arrives at No.3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, Egypt
- 4/2/1916 – Rejoined unit.
- 1/6/1916 – Left Alexandria, Egypt for the British Expeditionary Force, France.
- 8/6/1916 – Arrived at Marseilles
- 14/8/1916 – Wounded in France with a Gun Shot Wound to upper right arm.
- 16/8/1916 – Arrives at No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France.
- 22/8/1916 – Gives a statement to Red Cross in relation to death of Alexander Fowlie.
- 3/9/1916 – Transferred to England aboard the Hospital Ship, S.S. Brighton.
- 4/9/1916 – Admitted to North Evington Hospital, Leicester.
- 11/9/1916 – Transferred to Harefield Hospital, Middlesex
- 31/12/1916 – To Sydney, aboard H.M.A.T.18 Wiltshire for discharge.
- 23/1/1917 – Medically discharged due to gun shot wound to right arm.
- 1969 – It is believed that he died in 1969.
Family
William Alexander Meldrum was born circa 1890 at Albury, Hume, New South Wales, Australia.
His next of kin on enlistment was shown as his sister Edith Webb who was shown at the time as living with her aunt, Mrs. Renton, ‘Inveresk’, Pine Street, Hay, New South Wales. She remarried circa 31 October 1916 and her name was changed to Edith Batcheldor, residing at Buninyong, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
Addresses
There was no specific addresses mentioned on his army records.
Medals
William Alexander Meldrum was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.
Statement to Red Cross
On 22 August 1916, Meldrum gave a statement at No.1 Canadian Hospital, Etaples, France, in relation to the death of Alexander John Fowlie, Private, 1788, 13th Battalion, A.I.F., it was noted as follows:- “There were two Fowlies in the Battalion. The one with that number was of C. Company. On the 21st, of August, we had advanced on our left to straighten our line and to connect it with the Suvla Bay force. A.J.Fowlie was immediately in front of me and a bullet went through his head and killed him. The same bullet wounded me in the left shoulder.”
Links to Additional Information
- National Archive of Australia – William Alexander Meldrum
- Australian Red Cross – Wounded and Missing Enquiry
References
- Australian Imperial Force Service Records – William Alexander Meldrum
- Australian Red Cross – Wounded and Missing Enquiry
Groups
Contributors :-
- Vincent Stuart
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