William Edwin Agland 1895-1982

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(Created page with 'Service no: 6219 Place of birth: Shadforth, 1895 Address: 47 Peisley Street, Orange Occupation: Assistant Town Clerk Next of kin: William Edwin Agland (father), 47 Peisl…')

Revision as of 00:08, 30 January 2014

Service no: 6219

Place of birth: Shadforth, 1895

Address: 47 Peisley Street, Orange

Occupation: Assistant Town Clerk

Next of kin: William Edwin Agland (father), 47 Peisley Street, Orange

Date of enlistment: 14 March 1916

Place of enlistment: Sydney

Age at enlistment: 21

Fate: Embarked Euripides, Sydney, 9 September 1919. Disembarked Plymouth 26 October 1916. Hospitalised 3 May 1917 suffering from trench foot. Returned to Australia 12 July 1919.

Date of death: 1986

William Edwin Agland was born in the family home in Shadforth in 1895. The family moved to Orange when William was boy, living in Park Street, and later Spring Street. William and his siblings attended Orange East Public School. The family later purchased a property in Peisley Street, where they operated an auction room and real estate agency. William’s father was also named William Edwin Agland, and was an Alderman and Mayor of East Orange in 1910.

William was working as Assistant Town Clerk in Orange when he enlisted in WWI. The 21-year-old embarked in Sydney in September 1919, arriving in Plymouth the following month. A private, later General, in the 4th Battalion, William saw action in several battles, including the second battle of the Somme, as well as heavy fighting around Pozieres. He was wounded in the hand whilst operating a Lewis gun, and almost had his feet amputated due to severe trench foot and subsequent gangrene.

After the war Captain Agland continued reserve duty with the 6th Light Horse until just before WWII. He and his comrades participated in the re-enactment of the famous WWI charge on Beersheba, which was filmed in Orange as part of the [[40,000 Horsemen]] film.

Mr Agland worked tirelessly for the Orange Sub-Branch of the Returned and Services League, dedicating 73 years to the organisation. The RSL Museum in Anson Street is named in his honour. He was awarded an MBE in 1971 for his service to the community.

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