William Andrew Caldwell was a telegraphist at Millthorpe Post Office who served for more than 3½ years with the 7th Field Company Engineers in WWI. William and his brother, Robert Henry Caldwell, had enlisted within a few days of each other and trained together at Bathurst camp. William embarked from Sydney on 7 October 1916, just one month after his brother.
William disembarked in Plymouth on 21 November and proceeded to Parkhouse Camp where he undertook further training. In late May 1917 he embarked for service on the Western Front in France.
In early October William was wounded in action, suffering injuries to the arm and thigh. He was hospitalised and did not rejoin his unit until 26 December. Four days later he was recalled to England to be with his brother Robert, who was dangerously ill with peritonitis. The brothers were together until 1 January 1918, when Robert died. William oversaw his funeral and burial before returning to France on 8 January.
William continued to serve overseas for the duration of the war. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 16 January 1920.
In 1928 William married Francis Elizabeth Clarke at Surry Hills in Sydney. He passed away at Genista Nursing Home in Burwood in 1974.
William Andrew Caldwell is commemorated on Orange Public School Honour Roll and St Joseph’s Church Orange Honour Roll.
It’s nice to hear about soldiers who survive. It seemed like every soldier was killed or died of wounds so it was so good to read about someone who seemed to have a fairly long life after returning. I so look forward to the daily ww1 post. You guys do a great job.
Thank you Neil. We have identified 1,883 WWI service personnel from the district, 249 of whom failed to return from the war. Since we don’t have the resources to research all those who served we are tending to focus on those who “paid the ultimate price”.