William Henry Strahan
William Henry Strahan | |
|---|---|
Bill Strahan in Egypt 1915 | |
| Nicknames | Bill, Will |
| Born | 21 September 1869 Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 25 April 1915 (aged 45) |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch | First Australian Imperial Force |
| Service years | 1914–1915 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 16th Battalion |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | 1914–15 Star (posthumous) British War Medal (posthumous) Victory Medal (posthumous) |
William Henry Strahan (21 September 1869 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian fruitgrower, soldier and poet. Before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) he was a member of the Toodyay Road Board in Western Australia. He was a sergeant in the 16th Battalion and was killed in action on 25 April 1915 (the first day of the Gallipoli Campaign). Prior to joining the AIF he was a volunteer member of the Australian Light Horse and Guildford Rifles where he held the rank of sergeant major.
Strahan wrote The Bugle Call, which was published several times after his death. The verses were sent to King George V, prompting the response from the palace that Strahan had "acted up ... to the spirit of his utterances".