Ref ID: 8128
Name
William Calderwood.
Description
Larne Newspaper Photograph of Lance Corporal William Calderwood.
Life Story
Name: William Calderwood.
Service Number: 419.
Rank: Lance Corporal.
Battalion: 11th Australian Infantry Battalion
Regiment: Australian Imperial Force
Born: 29th August 1878, Belfast.
Died: 25 April 1915.
Address: 32 Beverley Street, Belfast
.
William Calderwood, son of James and Elizabeth Calderwood, Stepson of Esther Calderwood, was connected to 32 Beverley Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
The 1901 Ireland Census seen Williams family living at 39 Westmoreland Street, Shankill, Belfast
.
The 1911 Ireland Census has Williams family living at 43 Wigton Street, Shankill, Belfast
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William Calderwood joined the Royal Navy on the 29th August 1896 for a period of 12 years.
Having served aboard a number of Ships, he was transferred, duration of engagement, to the Royal Naval Reserves at Chatham on the 5th September 1908.
William then enlisted into the Australian Army on the 15th August 1914 at Helena Vale, Western Australia.
On the 1st of September 1914 William was appointed Lance Corporal.
He was posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, leaving from Fremantle, Western Australia, aboard Troop Carrier Ascanius on 31 October 1914.
William was a Lance Corporal in B Company 11th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Forces, when he was Killed In Action at Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 25th April 1915 aged 36 years.
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A local newspaper states.
Pte WM CALDERWOOD.
Australian Force, 32 Beverley Street, Belfast, formerly reported missing, now killed
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Williams Service Records show that he was reported wounded and missing on the 25th of April 1915, however a later Court Of Enquiry held in Fletre France on the 10th April 1916 determined that he had been Killed In Action on that date
.
Among Williams Service Records is a number of letters, apparently from his sisters. One of these letters, from a Mrs S W Byrne, dated 6th September 1915, inquires about her brothers whereabouts, and the following extract is from that letter: We got word some time ago to say he was wounded and have not been able to find out what hospital he was sent too or how he is progressing. I would be glad if you would let me have particulars as soon as possible as we are all awfully anxious about him, Yours Faithfully Mrs S W Byrne 64 Oban Street, Hawksburn, Victoria
.
They also show a letter dated the 27th July 1916 from a Miss Jane J. Harrison, 16 Douglas Street, South Freemantle, asking for his certificate of death to be forwarded to her
.
Another letter sent by the Base Records Office dated the 23rd June 1921 to Mrs S W Byrne states, I regret very much that, notwithstanding the efforts of our Graves Service Unit, we have so far been unable to obtain any trace of the last resting place of your brother. This letter goes on to ask for any correspondents she may have in the hope that they may help them locate him
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Strangely though a later letter sent by the same Mrs Byrne states that she had no brother called William Calderwood, and that in fact her sister had a friend of that name
.
Although we may never get answers to the many questions this leaves, including what was the relationship between Jane Harrison and William, and why would she be inquiring about him under the pretence of being his sister, and even using her own sisters name to do so also, among them, the fact remains that someone out of love and concern was, and must surely have been, heartbroken to have pursued an answer and received the final outcome concerning his death
.
It may just be the case that William met Jane Harrison on entering Australia and with no legal connection to what may have been her boyfriend, she then went about trying to locate him the best or only way she felt that she could
.
See brother also: Trooper Thomas Calderwood Inniskilling Dragoons
.
William received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star.
.
He is Remembered at Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1916
Classification
Newspaper, , Photograph - Larne Times.
