BRIDE, Benjamin William

In 1915, when he enlisted on 27 July, 1915,  William Bride, as he signed himself, was forty years old, born in 1874. Both his parents appear to have been dead and he lived with his sisters, Edith, Frances, Eleanor and Mary at 175 George St., East melbourne. He was working as a clerk, while Edith and Mary were teachers, Frances was a forewoman and, by 1924, a Civil Servant, and Eleanor was running their home. They were the children of Benjamin Bourke Bride and his wife, Annie, nee Leonard. Of the five children, only Frances appears to have married.

William Bride was first sent to Ascot Vale for training and attached to the 13-25 Reinforcements for the 7th Battalion. The 7th Battalion had already been in the thick of the action at Gallipoli: thye formed part of the second wave at the landing, then fought at Krithia, losing one-third their strength, and in May, 1915, were at Lone Pine. They were evacuated with the other ANZACS in December 1915, returning to Egypt.

William Bride left for Egypt on 29 December, 1915, on board HMAT Demosthenes A64, landing at Serapeum,  and was taken on strength with the 7th battalion on 18 March, 1916 at Cairo.  By 22 March, he was in the 1st Australian Hospital at Ismailia with VDG and on 2 April, was discharged to go overseas, leaving on 31 May, 1916 on board HMT Harlgram for Plymouth. From here, he joined the 2nd Training Battalion at one of the Convalescent Depots at Perham Downs. 

On 22 August, 1917, he was returned to Australia on board NZT 82 as medically unfit, suffering from rheumatism. He embarked on 27 August and was discharged from further service on 27 November, 1917. In 1919 and 1924, the Electoral Rolls have him he back living with his sisters at 175 George St., East Melbourne. He died in 1931 at Fitzroy.