Corporal William Andrews
4th & 13th Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 2780
Born: 27 February 1893, St Marys, NSW
Died: 26 September 1917, Belgium
William Andrews was born in 1893 at St Marys, the son of William and Martha (nee Pyke) Andrews. He attended the St Marys Public School and after leaving school, Andrews was apprenticed to St Marys bootmaker, Anshau for four years.
Andrews enlisted on 28 June 1915 and was allocated to the 9th Reinforcements, 4th Battalion. After a brief period of training, he left Australia aboard HMAT Argyllshire on 30 September bound for Egypt. Shortly after arrival in Egypt, Andrews was admitted to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, on 1 November 1915, suffering from influenza and was discharged on 9 November 1915. Andrews joined his battalion, stationed at Tel-el-Kebir on 6 January 1916. In late January 1916, Andrews reported sick to No 3 Field Ambulance and was transferred to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station briefly before being transferred to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Ghezireh. Andrews was transferred at a later date to No 1 Australian Dermatology Hospital and was discharged on 6 March 1916. Andrews joined the 13th Battalion, then stationed at Serapeum, on 29 March 1916. On 1 June 1916, Andrews was bound for the Western Front. On 26 June 1916, Andrews was found guilty of outstayed his pass. In July 1916, the 13th Battalion took in the battle for Pozieres. On 4 November 1916, Andrews was promoted to Lance Corporal and five days later was attached to No 3 Squadron Royal Flying Corps until 7 July 1917 when he rejoined the 13th Battalion in Belgium as they slowly advanced toward the Hindenburg Line. On rejoining the battalion, Andrews was promoted to temporary corporal on 15 September 1917 and served with C Company, Headquarters Lewis Gun Section. On 26 September 1917, Andrews was killed at Polygon Wood, near Ypres Belgium. Andrew’s machine gun section was on an outpost during an advance. About an hour after the advance started, a shell hit the machine gun position. Andrews and two other members of the section were killed instantly while the fourth member was wounded.
Memorial Details:
- Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery Wytschaete, Belgium
- Honor roll, Victoria Park, St Marys
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia B2455, ANDREWS W
- Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing files
- Australian War Memorial First World War Nominal Roll
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Penrith City Library Biography files
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