William Stirling MASON

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4839), William Stirling Mason was born at ‘Eketahana’ [i.e. Eketahuna], New Zealand.[1]  His middle name of “Stirling” is spelt “Sterling”on some sections of his service record, but it is spelt as “Stirling” in his signature.  He gave his age as 21 years and 8 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his medical was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 8 stone 12 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed that he had 12 months service in the Senior Cadets in New Zealand and he had been rejected for the AIF in the past for chest measurement.

The Blue Mountain Echo named ‘W. Mason’ as one of ‘the lads who answered the call, and marched out with the Coo-ees’ at Katoomba.[2]

He was attested at Springwood on 9^th November 1915, and completed his medical examination on 9^th November 1915 at Penrith, N.S.W.  (The Coo-ees had travelled from Springwood to Penrith on 9^th November 1915).

After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Waratah Street, Katoomba, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, W. [Walter] Mason, at the same address.

On 8^th March 1916 Private Mason, along with many of the other Coo-ee,s departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on 11^th April 1916.

It is not recorded when Private Mason departed Egypt, but he ended up in the 4^th Training battalion in England.

On 30^th July 1916 Private Mason departed Rollerstone in England bound for France.  He marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples on 1^st August 1916.

He joined the 13^th Battalion on 19^th August 1916 when it was resting and reorganising at Pernois, France.

On 4^th February 1917 the 13^th Battalion successfully attacked the German Front Line trenches near the village of Guedecourt, France.  During this attack Private Mason was wounded in action. receiving multiple shrapnel wounds to his right arm.  He was evacuated and admitted to the 3^rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 7^th February 1917.

On 9^th of February 1917 Private Mason was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth in Boulogne Harbour for evacuation to England.

On 10^th February 1917 he was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital.

Private Mason was discharged on 5^th March 1917, and granted leave to report to the Number 4 Command Depot at Wareham, England, on 21^st March 1917.

On 3^rd April 1917 Private Mason was admitted to the Military Hospital at Wareham with measles.

On 12^th April 1917 he was moved to the 16^th Field Ambulance at Woolwich, then was admitted to the Woolwich Military Hospital later that day.  He was discharged and sent back to the Number 4 Command Depot on 21^st April 1917.

On 27^th April 1917 Private Mason was transferred to the newly formed 63^rd Battalion at Pernham Downs (which was later disbanded on 19^th October 1917).

On 12^th September 1917 Private Mason departed Southampton bound for France, to reinforce the 13^th Battalion.  He arrived at the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve on 13^th September 1917.

On 21^st September 1917 he departed the 4^th Australian Division Base depot to rejoin the 13^th Battalion.  On 30^th September 1917 he marched into the 13^th Battalion, when it was in the Steenvoorde area in northern France.

Two weeks later, on 16^th October 1917, Private Mason was with the 13^th Battalion manning the support line in the vicinity of Zonnebeke, Belgium, when he was wounded in action by Mustard Gas.  He was sent to the 11^th Australian Field Ambulance with a blistered head, then moved back to the 3rd Australian Clearing Station.  He was placed aboard the 26^th Ambulance Train and on 19^th October 1917 he was admitted to the 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France.

On 22^nd October 1917 he was placed aboard Hospital Ship Grantully Castle for evacuation to England.  On 24^th October 1917 he was admitted to the Queen Mary Military Hospital at Whalley in Lancashire.

On 16^th November 1917 Private Mason was discharged from hospital, and granted leave to report to the Number 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on 30^th November 1917.

On 2^nd January 1918 Private Mason marched into the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge, England from Number 1 Command Depot.

On 23^rd January 1918 Private Mason departed Southampton bound for France.  He arrived at the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve on  24^th January 1918.

On 26^th January 1918 Private Mason departed the 4^th Australian Division Base depot to rejoin the 13^th Battalion.  On 30^th January 1918 he marched into the Battalion when it was manning the front line in the vicinity of Hollebeke, Belgium.

On the 1^st of March 1918 Private Mason was with the 13^th Battalion being relieved by the 10^th Battalion from the support lines when the enemy launched a trench raid. Private Mason’s company was caught in the enemy barrage and 5 men were killed, and 5 wounded, including Private Mason, who sustained a shrapnel wound to his forehead and another to his right hand.  Both were minor. He was sent to the 1^st Australian Field Ambulance.  He was treated and rejoined the Battalion the next day.

On 13^th of November 1918 Private Mason was granted leave from France to England until 28th November 1918.

While on leave in England, on 17^th November 1918 was admitted to the 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, England, suffering Bronchitis.  This was reported as ‘Influenza seriously ill’ on 20^th November 1918.

Private Mason was discharged on 6^th of December 1918 and granted leave to report back to the Hospital at Harefield on  11^th December 1918.  He was discharged on 14^th December 1918, and sent to the Number 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

On 18^th January 1919 Private Mason departed England aboard the H.M.A.T. Ulysses bound for Australia.  He arrived in Australia on 15^th March 1919.

The Blue Mountain Echo reported that Private ‘Will Mason’, along with other returning local soldiers, was presented with a smoker’s outfit at a welcome home function held at the Katoomba Town Hall on 31^st March 1919.[3]

Private Mason was discharged Medically Unfit on 1^st May 1919.

[1] NAA: B2455, MASON WILLIAM STIRLING

[2] ‘March over the Mountains’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, p. 2. Retrieved September 21, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142  [on page 3]

[3] ‘A Royal Welcome. Katoomba’s Heroes Received. A Memorable Evening’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 4 April 1919, p. 1. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108245995