Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
William Wheldon was born in 1890, the son of Thomas William and Zilpah (nee Crosby) Wheldon at Bildershaw) Farm (near West Auckland). Thomas and Zilpah had married in 1880. They had at least 11 children together who were all living in 1911.
In 1911 William was at Greenfield Farm, Middridge, living there with his younger brother Sydney (16), his elder sister Zilpah (24) , his married sister Elizabeth (27), her husband John C. Gibbeson (28) and their son James Leslie (6 months). His parents and siblings were at Bildershaw.
At the age of 22 William emigrated to Sydney, Australia. On July 26th 1912 he boarded the ship Waimana at Liverpool en route for Sydney with his older brother, Albert. Both men gave their trade as farmers.
He enlisted as a Private in the 31st Battalion of the Australian Infantry with service number 3005/A at Brisbane on January 31st 1916. His personal details were that he was 5’3” tall, weighed 140lbs with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, His faith was Church of England. He had a birthmark on his left side. There are details of his service that show him travelling on his way to the front via Egypt, England then on to France. He is also reported sick at times although details are not given.
William was killed in the Battle of Polygon Wood on October 24th 1917 aged 26 and was buried in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood in grave XXIV. B. 13.
His brother Sidney returned to Middridge and died in January 1919 when a shire horse fell on him.
William Wheldon is remembered at Middridge on M51.01
He is also remembered on the Virtual War Memorial Australia Honour Roll 1917 and the Australian War Memorial.
