Sgt. William Nelson Spratley

William (Jnr) was working as a blacksmith when he too enlisted to fight during World War I on 31 December 1915. He embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 17 April 1916. William served with the Australian Imperial Force (Service No. 5473) in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion and was known as 'Sprat'. William (Snr) saw action at Gallipoli and was wounded before returning to Australia on 19 January 1916. The family then moved to Tauranga in New Zealand, living in 10th Avenue. William (Jnr) served in Egypt and then France. The Commonwealth Gazette (No. 169) of 4 October 1917 reported on William's receipt of the Military Medal for service at Bullecourt in France: Is brought to notice for his bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 11th April 1917 in bringing in out of "No Man's Land" his Company Sergeant-Major under very heavy shell and machine gun fire. This man also displayed coolness and gallantry and utter contempt for danger both during the assault and afterwards in the heavy bomb fighting which took place after a footing had been established in the HINDENBURG Line. He is recommended for distinction. On 25 June 1918 William received a shell wound to his right thigh which shattered his leg. He was carried to a dressing station where his leg had to be amputated. Sergeant William Nelson Spratley died from loss of blood in the 4th Australian Field Ambulance Hospital at Le Hamel in Northern France on 25 June 1918, aged 24. He was buried in the St Pierre Cemetery at Amiens in Picardie, France. Biography by Debbie McCauley.

• The AIF Project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=284805

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William Nelson Spratley embarked at Fremantle, Australia, on the ship "HMAT Aeneas" on the 17 April 1916 with the 16th Infantry Battalion, a 21 year old Blacksmith.

As a Private, he received the "Military Medal" on the 11th April 1917 for his actions at Bullicourt, the official recommedation reading thus:

" Is bought to notice for his bravery and devotion to duty on the morning of the 11th April 1917 in bringing out of "No Man's Land' his company Sergeant-Major under very heavy shell and machine gun fire. This man also displayed coolness and gallantry and utter contempt for danger both during the assault and afterwards in the heavy bomb fighting which took place after footing had been established in the HINDENBURG Line. He is recommended for distinction."

Military Medal: Awarded by UK and Commonwealth Type Military decoration. Eligibility British and (formerly) Commonwealth forces Awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire Status Discontinued in 1993

Roll of Honour William Nelson Spratley

Rank - Sergeant

Service Number - 5473

Unit - 16th Battalion

Service - Army

Conflict - 1914 - 1918

Date of Death - 25 June 1918

Cause of Death - Died of wounds to his right thigh

Cemetery or memorial Details - France

Gravesite Details Sergeant, 16th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Died of wounds. Son of William and Annie Constance Spratley, of 10th Avenue, Tauranga, New Zealand. Native of England. Awarded the Military Medal. Age 24.