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William McIntosh Murrell - Information

William was a son of William Henry and Agnes Murrell. The Murrells had resided in Neutral Bay, where William was born on the 11th of November 1897. In the 1900s, they moved to East Minto to a property called Fife. Growing up, William served in the senior cadets for three years and then in the Militia. Completing a 3 year apprenticeship with Park & Loane in Sydney, William found employment as a printer. When he was 18, he decided to enlist in the AIF in Warwick Farm on the 28th of August 1915. He then embarked Sydney on the RMS Osterley on the 15th of January 1916, sailing as a Private with the 2nd Battalion.

William disembarked in Egypt, before leaving Alexandria for the Western Front in March. However, early the following month, he reported to the 26th General Hospital with influenza. He returned to duty two weeks later, meeting the 2nd Battalion in a quiet section of the lines, known as The Nursery. The Battalion was then shifted for operations during the Somme Offensive. William and his mates attacked the Germans, launching towards the village of Pozières in late July. Sadly, many troops rushed into the rapid fire. Between the 22nd and 23rd of July, William was hit in the right foot and thigh. He was rushed to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. On the 24th of July, he was taken by the 27th Ambulance Train to hospital in Etaples. Then in early August, he was invalided to England, leaving Calais onboard the Hospital Ship Brighton, and was admitted to the 1st Northern General Hospital at Newcastle on Tyne. The damage to his leg, affected his ability to be a soldier. He was therefore, invalided back home onboard the Karoola on the 16th of October 1916. He reached Australia in early December, and was able to reunite with his family for Christmas. He was medically discharged from service in March 1917.