“I have the honour to command the company to which your son was attached, and I cannot speak too highly of his splendid qualities. He was, indeed a sterling fellow, and his rapid rise to commissioned rank speaks for itself. His brother officers hold him in the highest esteem, and deeply deplore their loss. His coolness and courage wore the admiration of all, and his men loved him. May it comfort those who were dear to him, in their hour of sorrow, in the knowledge that he fell gallantly leading his men in action.”
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THOSE were the words Jeston Wand received from Chas J Doig expressing his deepest sympathy in the loss of Mr Wand’s son, 2nd Lieutenant William Wand.
William Wand was the second boy of Jeston and Margaret (nee Troy) Wand of ‘Vere’ Glendonbook, Singleton.
He had a brother, James, and sister, Mary Emma (Parr). At the young age of 21, he enlisted (Regimental Number 1268) on February 5, 1916, and was assigned to the 36th Battalion, ranked as Private.
Private William Wand left Sydney on May 13, 1916, aboard the Beltana and arrived in England on November 5, 1916 – and was promoted to Corporal a day later.
He then proceeded overseas to France on November 22.
On March 25, 1917, he was again promoted to Sergeant.
He was wounded on June 10, 1917, in Belgium but remained on duty.
Sergeant Wand suffered another wound on July 21, 1917, receiving a gunshot injury to the right arm and right cheek – and rejoined his battalion a few days later.
He was admitted to hospital in August 1917, this time for infection to his wounds.
In the same month, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
He then fought in the Battle of Passchendaele.
Also referred to as the Third Battle of Ypres, the conflict began on July 31, 1917, and dragged on for three-and-a-half months through the region’s wettest summer.
Australian deaths in the battle amounted to almost one third of the total casualties.
More than 12,000 Australians died at Passchendaele – and some 6000 of them in October 1917.
One-hundred and forty-one Hunter Valley men were killed between October 12 and 18 in 1917.
2nd Lieutenant William Wand was one who lost his life on the battlefield, where he was wounded for the third time, receiving a penetrating wound to the lung on October 12, 1917.
He lay in the field till the next day and then was taken to the 44th casualty Clearing Station.
2nd Lieutenant William Wand died on October 13, 1917.
He is buried in The Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.
