Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Medic' A7 for Egypt. 2.11.1914
Roll Rank Sapper.
Roll Unit 3rd Field Company Engineers AIF, to Egypt.
Gerloff disembarked at Suez with the 3rd Field Engineers. He joined the MEF at Alexandria and embarked for Gallipoli 5.4.1915. The role of the Enginers was to construct roads and sap in the trenches roads. War Diairies note,'12th Bn., Sapper Gerloff was wounded slightly.' Gerloff was in fact quite severely wounded in action with a severe GSW to his left foot 19.6.1915. He was transferred by HS ‘Devonah’ to Egypt 19.6.1915 and was admitted to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria 24.6.1915. He was transferred to the Convalescent Camp at Mustapha 9.7.1915. Gerloff embarked for the ANZAC Front from Alexandria per HT ‘Huntsgreen’ 20.8.1915. He became sick with dysentery at Gallipoli and was transferred to Mudros 29.8.1915. Gerloff was diagnosed with Malaria 12.9.1915.(Reported West Australian Newspaper 30.10.1915). His wife died of TB in Western Australia 21.9.1915. Gerloff was transferred by HS to England and admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth 26.9.1915. He was listed for return to Australia on escort duty.
Embarked Portland per SS ‘Runic’ for escort duty to Australia as ship’s guard 7.11.1915.
Returned/Disembarked to Australia 21.12.1915.
Discharged early from AIF at Perth 6.1.1916.
Final Rank L/Cpl. 3rd Field Coy. Engineers.
Medical Condition Invalided- GSW left foot, malaria, dysentery
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes  Gerloff married Elsie Ernestine Heberle in 1914, age 31 years. His wife died of TB at Wooroloo Sanatorium whilst he was on active service (Western Mail 1.10.1915). Gerloff returned to WA , however, later articles record that 'Billy' 'suffered fearfully from war shock' and moved to Sydney. (Sunday Times 28.3.1920 p2). He returned to WA in the early 1920s and died at 43 years of age 24.3.1926 (Western Mail  Family Notices 15.4.1926 p2). Cause of death unspecified.
Photo Daily News 1.8.1915, Western Mail 23.7.1915 p26
            HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph source AWM H19319
            Landing Engineering appliances at Gallipoli 1915. Photographer C.E. Bean, photograph source AWM G01441
            Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove, Gallipoil 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans, photograph source AWM A05763
            5th General Hopsital Portsmouth 1919. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from postcard
            HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph source AWM P00707.027
            

Information Source
AWM H19319. HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM G01441. Landing Engineering appliances at Gallipoli 1915. Photographer C.E. Bean, photograph sourced form the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM A05763. Casualty Clearing Station on the Beach, Anzac Cove, Gallipoil 1915. Photograph donor T.Yeomans, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P00707.027. HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls- William Arthur Gerloff
AWM 4. Australian Imperial Forces Unit War Diaries1914-18 War. Engineers. 3rd Field Coy. June 1915. https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1008205.pdf
Daily News
NAA: B2455, Gerloff W A
Postcard. 5th General Hopsital Portsmouth 1919. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from postcard
Sunday Times
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail
Wise H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories.

House off Benara Rd., Beechboro, Guildford. WA.

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