FITZGERALD, William
(Service number 47188)
| First Rank | Sergeant | Last Rank | Rifleman |
|---|
Birth
| Date | 27/06/1889 | Place of Birth | Ashburton |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | 25 January 1917 | Age | 27 yrs 7 mths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | Convent, Sacred Heart, Timaru | ||
| Occupation | Gardener | ||
| Previous Military Experience | Volunteers & 6th Rein N.Z.R.B. Two and half years Timaru Port Guards (had to resign, no time to attend). | ||
| Marital Status | Single | ||
| Next of Kin | Mrs Mary Ann FITZGERALD (mother), 3 Wellington Street, Timaru | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | New Zealand Rifle Brigade | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | 25th Reinforcements New Zealand Field Artillery | ||
| Date | 26 April 1917 | ||
| Transport | Turakina | ||
| Embarked From | Wellington | Destination | Plymouth, England |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | |||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | British War Medal | ||
Award Circumstances and Date
No information
Prisoner of War Information
| Date of Capture | |
|---|---|
| Where Captured and by Whom | |
| Actions Prior to Capture | |
| PoW Serial Number | |
| PoW Camps | |
| Days Interned | |
| Liberation Date |
Death
| Date | 10 July 1974 | Age | 86 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | Timaru | ||
| Cause | |||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Timaru Cemetery | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
This William FITZGERALD (Bill) was a son of William (Bill, deceased) and Mary Ann (nee MADDEN) FITZGERALD, of Timaru. Baptized Catholic (William Alphonse Peter) on 27 July 1889 at Ashburton. He was a brother of Patrick Gregory who was killed in action 1915, John Leo (wounded), Michael Joseph & Thomas Aloysius who all also served WWI. It appears that William first attested, was medically examined, and enlisted on the 17 April 1915 (No. 6/2617, as William Alphontis FITZGERALD). He was drawn by the first military service ballot for No. 10 (South Canterbury) recruiting district, in November 1916, when he was a gardener at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Timaru. At the time of enlistment in 1917, his mother was dependent on him. William returned to Port Chalmers, New Zealand by the Maunganui on 21st June 1919, after 2 years and 57 days of service in NZ and overseas. At least twice he changed ranks (lance corporal; temporary corporal; rifleman) during the course of his service at his own request. William appears to have come through the war relatively unscathed. William possibly played in the Celtic B Juniors football team in the Seven-a-Side Tournament on 24 May 1907. He was a member of the Hibernian Society and the last surviving foundation member of the Celtic Rugby Football Club. Both of these groups honoured him at his funeral. Bill married Norah Josephine who predeceased him. He was suvived by a son and two daughters, as well as grandchildren and great=grandchildren. His son, Bernie, served in WWII.
Sources
Cenotaph Database [30 June 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0040391) [17 April 2014]; TDC Headstone image Timaru Cemetery [06 August 2013]; Timaru Herald, 12 & 16 June 1919 (Papers Past) [20 September 2013]; Catholic Diocese of Christchurch - Baptism index V.1.2 (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Computer Resources) [27 April 2014]; Timaru Herald, 24 May 1907, 25 November 1916 (Papers Past) [06 May 2014; 16 September 2014]; Timaru Herald, 11, 12 & 13 July 1974 (Timaru District Library) [23 September 2014]
External Links
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TS
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