In Memory of Air Mechanic 2nd Class ARGENT WILLIAM CLISSOLD WAKELY 1046, 71st Sqdn., Australian Flying Corps who died age 36 on 29 June 1917 Son of William Edward and Barbara Wakely, of Poughill, Bude, England. Remembered with honour POUGHILL (ST. OLAF) CHURCHYARD Wakely, Argent William Clissold http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1637078/395826?zoomLevel=3 Until we can take our own photograph please know that this photograph is available at The War Graves Photographic Project The aim of The War Graves Photographic Project is to photograph every war grave, individual memorial, MoD grave, and family memorial of serving military personnel from WWI to the present day http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1290791
Wakely, Air Mechanic Class II Argent William Clissold, (1046) No 71 (Australian) Sqn RFC Argent Wakely came from Poughill, Cornwall, England, and had served in the 2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Infantry Volunteers, as well as working in the Naval Dockyards at Chatham. He was 31, and a Carpenter, when he enlisted in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion in Melbourne on 2 April 1916. He underwent Engineers training in Victoria before he transferred to the AFC in November. On 17 January 1917 he left from Melbourne on HMAT A5 Omrah but was sick on the voyage. After arrival in the UK he was posted to No 71 (Australian) Sqn at Castle Bromwich in April, but hospitalised later in the month. He died from a cerebellar abscess and pneumonia at the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham on 29 June 1917. AMII A W C Wakely is buried at Poughill (St Olaf) Cemetery, Cornwall, England. From my article The AFC Roll of Honour, published in three parts in the '14 - '18 Journal, the annual publication of the Australian Society of WWI Aero Historians. Gareth
