Potts, William Elmhirst

Book of Remembrance entry

M.B.E., M.C., B.E., M.I.E.Aust. : Captain, 13th Field Coy., Engineers, A.I.F., Egypt, France and England. Enlisting 2nd August, 1915, and sailing 14th October as sergeant with 1st Coy. reinforcements, was sapper on Suez Canal Defences with coy. till 5th May, 1916. Then joined the newly formed 4th Divisional Engineers as second-lieutenant, crossed to France in June and took part in all engagements with 13th Coy. until 31st January, 1917, when gassed at Hollebeke and evacuated to hospital in England. In April, 1918, was appointed Adjutant, Engineers Training Depot, Brightlingsea, and served until demobilisation. Promoted lieutenant, 6th June, 1916; captain, 8th July, 1918. Awarded M.C. 1st January, 1917, and Mentioned in Despatches. City Engineer, Launceston, and formerly Deputy Chief Engineer, Canberra. Early education at Narrabri District and Sydney Grammar Schools.

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TIMELINE

1891

Birth in Uralla -- NSW, Australia 6 May 1891
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Early education at Narrabri District School, Narrabri, NSW, Australia
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Early education at Sydney Grammar School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia
1914

Tertiary education at University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia 1914
1915

Enlisted 2 Aug 1915
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Military service as Captain at Egypt --, Egypt ; France --, France ; Wingate, England --, United Kingdom
1917

Military award: M.C. Military Cross on 1917-01-01
1920

Engineer at Rylstone -- NSW, Australia 1920
1923

Engineer at Canterbury -- NSW, Australia 1923
1925

Engineer at Federal Capital Commission Canberra -- ACT, Australia 1925
1927

Military award: M.B.E. on 1927-07-08
1927

Chief Engineer at Canberra -- ACT, Australia 1927
1927

Deputy Chairman at Development Committee Federal Capital Canberra -- ACT, Australia 1927
1930

Engineer at Armadale -- VIC, Australia 1930
1943

Engineer at Hobart -- TAS, Australia 1943
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Military award: Mentioned in Despatches on
1970

Death in Melbourne -- VIC, Australia 11 May 1970

Gender

Male

From the archives

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