Mr J. Shalders has received notice that his son Private W. T. Shalders has arrived at Malta, slightly sick. -Oamaru Mail, 4/9/1915.
William Shalders served on the Gallipoli Peninsula and was evacuated from there suffering from dysentery. Although the above report says "slightly ill," it was six months before he was fit enough to serve.
While in France, in 1917, he was sent on a "pigeon course" - presumably messenger birds. He was later detached to serve with the NZ Field Artillery, and it was with them that he suffered his fatal wounds.
William was admitted to a Canadian hospital on July 25 with serious wounds, which are described in his army record as "shrapnel wounds right ankle arms head and right buttock." He died three days later.
ROLL OF HONOR.
SHALDERS. — Died of wounds, "Somewhere in France," on July 28th, 1918, Corporal William Thomas Shalders, (Main Body), fifth and dearly loved son of James and Pauline Shalders, Enfield, in his 24th year. -Oamaru Mail, 7/8/1918.
The many friends of Mr and Mrs Shalders, of Enfield will have been deeply grieved to have read of the death of their beloved son, Corporal W. T. Shalders, who died of wounds somewhere in France on July 29th. Corporal Shalders left with the Main Body, seeing service at Gallipoli, and being laid up from there with a severe illness. Since then he has been fighting in France right up till the time of his death. He was born at Incholme, and educated at Ratanui, Duntroon, and Enfield Schools. He always took a keen interest in sport, and was very popular throughout the Enfield district, and wherever he was known. Previous to his enlisting he was engaged in farming at Enfield. There are two other sons of Mr Jas. Shalders doing their duty. Frank, who left with the Thirteenth Reinforcements, is at the present time in hospital with appendicitis, and Albert, who sailed with the Eighth Reinforcements, is still fighting. -North Otago Times, 12/8/1918.
Oamaru Cemetery.
No comments:
Post a Comment