Biographical Details:
Little, apart from what appears in his service record, is known about William Cresswell. He was born in Hammersmith, London, in 1890. It is not known when he moved to Australia. William gave his profession as Clerk when he enlisted in April 1915 at Bundaberg, Queensland. He also listed May Kirton of Suffolk, England as his Next of Kin.
In May William embarked Brisbane with the originals of the 26th Battalion. After a brief stay in Fremantle, where the 28th Battalion boarded, the Ascanius sailed to Egypt. Here William and his Battalion received further training. His Battalion then served three months at Gallipoli, returned to Egypt for another two months. William eventually reached France in March 1916.
During the Trench Raid, William was the telephonist, supporting linesman, L/Cpl Chandler. This obviously suited him because in July 1918 William reverted to the ranks, from Corporal to sapper, in order to transfer to the Australian Corps Signals Company.
William was hospitalised on several occasions with trench feet, influenza, trench fever and mumps. In March 1917 he suffered a severe GSW to his left leg which kept him in England until Jan 1918.
William married Elizabeth Harrison on 31st October 1918, at Lancaster, while on leave. Presumably William had met his future wife during the eight months he had spent in England recovering from his gunshot wound, although it is possible he may have known her from pre-war days before he moved to Australia..
In August 1919 William returned to Australia with his wife. Presumably they settled in Queensland although there are no supporting records other than in 1928 he applied for Repatriation Benefits in Queensland. Nothing else is known of William’s post-war life. |