Queens South Africa & British War Medals
Name: William Mead
Service No: 172
Unit: 3rd Field Ambulance
Naming Details:
- Queen’s South Africa Medal – TUGELA HEIGHTS and RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, name erased and renamed (engraved) - Sgt. William Mead. Natal Carb.
- British War Medal impressed - 172 Sjt. W. MEAD. 3 F.AMB. A.I.F.
Additional Information
Record of Service:
William Mead was born about 1873 in London, England. At the time of his enlistment, he was residing in Wandalea, Brunswick Junction, Western Australia. On his WW1 dossier William states that he had served for 3 years in South Africa (Boer War) however these service details are not confirmed. He enlisted in the A.I.F, at the age of 42, on the 17th of August 1914. He was allocated service number 172 and embarked from Freemantle on the 2nd of November 1914 with “C” Squadron, 3rd Field Ambulance. (The same Squadron and Unit as the legendary John Simpson Kirkpatrick).
On the 7th of March 1915 William proceeded to join the M.E.F at Gallipoli and on the 13th of November 1915 was admitted to hospital suffering from heart issues. He was admitted to St. Patricks Military Hospital in Malta on the 24th of November 1915 and invalided from Malta to England on the 25th of January 1916. On the 17th of July 1916 he was taken on strength with Admin. HQ in London.
On the 30th of January 1917 William was admitted to hospital (suffering from trench feet). On the 20th of June 1917 he was discharged from the A.I.F being “permanently unfit.” He died in Karrakatta, Western Australia on the 23rd of January 1948.
Notes:
Queen’s South Africa Medal – TUGELA HEIGHTS and RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, name erased and renamed (engraved) Sgt. William Mead. Natal Carb. British War Medal impressed 172 Sjt. W. MEAD. 3 F.AMB. A.I.F.