William Duffy

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Mar 1883
Place of Birth	Ringwood, Victoria
Death	9 Apr 1917
Place of Death	Morchies, France
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 1 month
Description	5' 11½" (1.82m) tall; fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	NOK
Next of Kin	Brother Mr John Duffy
Military Information
Reg Number	6260
Date of Enlistment	8 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion
Date of Embarkation	7 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray
Fate	Killed in Action
Monument	Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Karragullen Memorial Roll WA State War Memorial Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries .

War Service

Bill enlisted on 8 Apr 1916 and was temporarily assigned to the 54th Depot Company before being transferred on 17 Apr 1916 to the 20th Reinforcements fo the 11th Battalion. On 7 Sep 1916 he boarded HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray in Fremantle for Plymouth where he disembarked on 2 Nov 1916. Bill was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion to complee his training prior to beng sent to France. On 17 Dec he proceeded to France aboard HMT Golden Eagle and the following day he was taken on strength by the 1st Division Base Depot in Etaples.

Bill was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion on 17 Jan 1917 which was then in a rest zone. On 9 Apr 1917, as part of the prelude to the First Bullecourt battle on the 11th, the 11th Battalion had moved up to Morchies. Nearby there was a heavy artillery battery which had been found by the Germans who were shelling its general area. The 11th Battalion suffered nine killed and eight wounded, Bill Duffy being one of those killed by the German anti batery fire.

photos courtesy L Reynolds

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial