4th Australian Divisional Base Depot
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Ernest Fenwick was the eldest of his 5 surviving siblings 3 brothers and 2 sisters. His father Luke Fenwick was born in 1864 in Whickham, near Gateshead, County Durham, and married in the district of Lanchester in 1851 to Isabella Fawcett born 1868, Banstead, Hexham, Northumberland. They settled at Allendale Cottages, High Westwood, Medomsley, County Durham, where William Ernest was born March 1889, Harold, September 5th 1893, Mabel Alma, August 28th 1898 and Cecil, June 19th 1901, whilst they were living at 60, Dene Bank, Medomsley, where Luke was employed as a coal miner/stone worker, their youngest child Ida was born in 1906. In 1911 they were living at 10, Nell Terrace, Highfield, Rowlands Gill, Harold (17) had joined his father in supporting the family employed at the colliery as a driver, however, his elder brother William Ernest, although still living at Medomsley was working as a warehouseman and lived at Acron Cottage, Westwood, one of 2 boarders and by 1914 had emigrated to Australia.
Upon the outbreak of war, August 4th 1914, his brother Harold was one of the first to enlist and served with Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, as Able Seaman KX419 Harold Fenwick. He died of wounds and subsequent haemorrhage, May 22nd 1915, in Malta after his evacuation from Gallipoli.
William Ernest Fenwick enlisted in Adelaide, December 16th 1916 declaring he was a grocer’s assistant, born at Medomsley near Durham, England, the son of Luke Fenwick of Ashfield House, Ebchester, Durham, England and that he had served 1 month War Service at Murray Bridge, (in South Australia, formally known as Mobilong and Edwards Crossing, near Adelaide). As Private 3389 he embarked at Adelaide, February 12th 1917 with the A.I.F. and sailed aboard the, HMAT A48 “Seang Bee” bound for Europe. Disembarking in England, May 5th the A.I.F. made its way to Codford, south of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where Private Fenwick was posted to the 12th Training Battalion, 4th Australian Division, until departing to France, July 16th 1917, via the port of Southampton, landing at Le Havre. He remained at the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Le Havre until July 21st when he was marched out to his unit in the field, joining the 48th Battalion, August 4th 1917, on the western front. Eleven days later Private Fenwick was dead, mortally wounded he had died on the battlefield, locality Wytschaete, (now Wijtschate), Messines Ridge, August 15th 1917.
Private 3389 William Ernest Fenwick Australian Imperial Force was laid to rest within the front line cemetery of Cabin Hill Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave B. 10. He was 28 years of age and single. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The 3rd Echelon France forwarded to executrix, Mrs. F. Soneman, Millicent, South Australia, November 12th 1917, Private Fenwick’s person items consisting of; metal wrist watch and strap, metal cigarette case, safety razor and blades in case, belt, Testament, metal mirror, wallet, photos, references, also Bank Book of Savings Bank of South Australia. The items, all monies and his awards were as per his will assigned to his brother Cecil Fenwick of Ashfield House, Ebchester, County Durham.
His father made an application to the Australian authorities to receive a pension, this was refused on the grounds, “claimant has adequate means of support”.
Isabella Fenwick nee Fawcett (56) died in 1923, Luke Fenwick (58) in 1924, both registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Ernest Fenwick is remembered at Ebchester on E58.01
