Drysdale, William Willis (88)
Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC
Age: 27 years
Enlistment Details: Tuesday, 18 August 1914 – Melbourne, VIC
Service Number: 88 view online service record
Address:
8 Drysdale Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Next of Kin:
W W Drysdale (father)
8 Drysdale Street
Port Melbourne, VIC
Embarkation Details:
Date: Monday, 19 October 1914
Ship: HMAT Wiltshire A18
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 2nd Field Ambulance
Fate:
DOW: Friday, 21 May 1915
Place: HS Sudan
Private, 2 Field Ambulance, died of wounds, 21 May, 1915, Gallipoli, aged 29, commemorated Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.
Parents: William W and Mrs A Jane DRYSDALE, born Port Melbourne, educated Nott Street SS, family then at 40 Esplanade. Circular returned from Drysdale Street. The street was named for the Drysdale family who had lived there from before 1850. Eldest son, six siblings noted in Death Notice. He died from chest wounds at sea on board the Hospital Ship Sudan when being invalided back to Egypt
Additional research by Brian Membrey
‘The Old Door Knocker’ by David Doughty, viewed 10 June, 2016, http://www.ddoughty.com/old-door-knocker.html
1915 ‘THE TOLL OF WAR.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 19 June, p. 1, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91164857
1915 ‘HOW PRIVATE DRYSDALE FELL.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 9 October, p. 1, viewed 26 September, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91165685
1 Comments
Brian Membrey
“Private Wm. Willis Drysdale is the first resident of Port Melbourne reported to have succumbed to wounds received in the Dardanelles. He was 27 years of age, a native of of Port Melbourne, and the son of a well-known resident of the district. Private Drysdale gained his first knowledge of drill under the instruction of Lieut-Colonel Walter McNichol, at the Nott-street state school, and later served six vears in the Victorian militia. In private life, deceased was a driver in the employ of Swallow & and Ariell, and was a prominent member of the Easy Cycling Club”
“CAREERS OF THE FALLEN”, The Age, 18 June, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154941202