Commemorated
inside St Peters Church as William Wass and in the Lych Gate as
George Wass he was born in Ambaston, Derbyshire, although on the1901
and 1911 census it is stated he was born in Windley, Derbyshire.
His parents were German and Harriet Wass and in 1911 they lived
at Moor Bridge Farm, Sinfin Moor Lane, Chellaston.
He left England in July 1912 and enlisted on the 17th August 1914
at Randwick, Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. His rank on enlistment
was Signaller Corporal. He had previously served with the Sherwood
Foresters in the Boer War.
In October 1914 he boarded the troopship Suffolk bound for Egypt.
By April 1915, after training, he was on the move again, to Gallipoli.
He was promoted to Sergeant that month and in August 1915 was wounded
in the head. He recovered and was posted to France where he was
killed in action 19th/20th July 1916 and is commemorated on the
V.C. Corner of the Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France.
He was awarded the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal
and the Victory Medal.
In 2009 a letter appeared in the Derby Telegraph by Steve Brunt
who was trying to trace relatives of William Wass. Excavations were
taking place in Fromelles of a mass grave and they wanted to rebury
the men with full military honours. One of these bodies was believed
to be William Wass.
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