Bill Vallence
Image: Pat Brown
FatherJames Vallence1 d. 1914
MotherMargaret McGrath1 d. 22 Jul 1906
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Maurice William Vallence was born circa 1880 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.2 
He married Mary Agnes Phillips, daughter of John Phillips and Ellen O'Loughlin, on 6 December 1923 in Ascot Vale, Victoria.2 
He died on 21 February 1932 in Caulfield, Victoria.3,4,5 

Family

Mary Agnes Phillips b. 7 Sep 1893, d. 20 Jan 1972
ChartsO'Loughlin, Michael, descendant chart
Phillips, James, descendant chart

Story

Maurice William was born in Bacchus Marsh in January 1880. He was the eigth child of Margaret and James. He was known as Bill.

No birth record has been found for Bill. The January 1880 date comes from the November 1880 birth registration for brother Henry, where Maurice William is said to be 10 months old. This date fits with his marriage registration, but is at odds with his service record which indicates he was born October 1881.

His name is variously given as Maurice William (brother Henry's birth, electoral roll 1931), Maurice William John (marriage), William (service record, death registration, obituary), and William John (electoral rolls 1919-1926).2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
 
Military Service
William Vallence enlisted 15 September 1914, one month after war was declared. He joined the 4th Light Horse regiment with regimental number 541.7
Bill Vallence
Image: Beth Phillips
William gave his age as 32 years 11 months but was more than a year and a half older. He is described as having a height of 5' 6½" (1.7 m), weight 11 st 5 lb (72 kg) with brown hair.

He gave his father James as next of kin, though this was later changed to his sister-in-law Mrs Packington Joseph Vallence after James died.

William had previously served with 9th Light Horse regiment from 1903 until 1908 when he left the district.7,6
 
William embarked aboard HMAT Wiltshire on 20 October 1914 and disembarked in Egypt. He landed at Gaba Tepe on the Gallipoli peninsula in May 1915, a month after the disastrous landing at Anzac Cove. In August he received a shrapnel wound to the right temple and was transferred via Greece then Malta to London for recovery.

He returned to Egypt in May 1916 and rejoined the 4th Light Horse regiment. In June he went to France and was transferred to 2nd Anzac Mounted Regiment.

William was promoted to Lance Corporal in February 1917, to Temporary Corporal in November 1917, and to Corporal in February 1918.7,14
William Vallence (front, third left), allied officers at Steenwerck, Belgium, 1917
Image: AWM
There were several detachments between February 1917 and February 1918. In one of those detachments, in November 1917 with 2nd ANZAC Headquarters anti-aircraft section, William was part of an action that saw him awarded the Military Medal. Family were sent an extract from the London Gazette 22 February 1918, relating to conspicuous service.

Awarded the Military Medal
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Medal for bravery in the field on the undermentioned non-commissioned officer :-
No. 541 Corporal W Vallence

This was promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette no. 110, dated 25 July 1918.7
 
BACCHUS MARSH
SOLDIER WINS MILITARY MEDAL
Cpl William Vallence of Bacchus Marsh who won the Military Medal some time ago, has sent the following official note to his relatives - 'Medal won on 24th November, 1917, for bravery and devotion to duty. With his Hotchkiss gun during heavy shelling of the enemy, a shell put his gun out of action. and although partially stunned and badly shaken he refused to retire and again got his gun into action and commenced firing at enemy aeroplanes until they were driven out of range'.15

 
In February 1918, William was wounded in action via a mustard gas shell, the effects of which lasted for the rest of his life.

Never fully recovering in England, William embarked aboard HMAT Suevic in November 1918, returning to Australia in January 1919.

William Vallence was discharged from the AIF in Melbourne on 5 March 1919, 'medically unfit, gassed'.7,8
 
The Empire's call
Corporal W Vallence is reported 'gassed'. He has also had the honour of winning the Military Medal for distinguished service. He has received the following note from his Commanding Officer, Major MacLeish:- Dear Vallence, just a line to congratulate you on winning your Military Medal. No man deserves it more and I know all the Squadron are delighted about it. I am sending you a piece of ribbon.

Corporal Vallence is a brother of Lieut Pack Vallence, of Bacchus Marsh, who has been on service for the last three years, and writes by the last mail that he is 'still going strong'.16

 
William served a second short term with the AIF.

William Vallence re-enlisted at Holdsworthy in New South Wales on 30 September 1919. He joined Special Service AIF as Private with regimental number 86493. The function of Special Service, in one place referred to as Special Escort, is not known.

He embarked aboard HMAT Rugia from Sydney on 13 October 1919, disembarking in London on 16 December. The following day, he was granted leave 'subject to recall (ex Aust Escort)'.

William left England for return to Australia per HMAT Friedrichsruh (a captured German vessel) and disembarked in Sydney on 12 January 1920.

Private William Vallence was discharged in Sydney on 26 March 1920, 'termination of period of enlistment'.7
 
A more detailed account of William Vallence's military service can be found at the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour website (Corporal William Vallence MM).14
 
Tom Phillips and Bill Vallence were brothers-in-law after the war when Bill married Tom's sister Mary.
Tom Phillips & Bill Vallence, c. 1915
Image: Beth Phillips
Tom Phillips, Bill Vallence, probably Packington Vallence, nurses unknown, Bacchus Marsh, c. 1915
Image: Bacchus Marsh & District Historical Society
Marriage
Mary Agnes Phillips and Maurice William John Vallence were married at St Mary's church in Ascot Vale on 6 December 1923. They had no children. Mary was 30 years old and Bill was 43.

VALLENCE-PHILLIPS - On the 6th December, 1923, at St Mary's, Ascotvale, by the Rev Father Ellis, William John, youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs J Vallence, Bacchus Marsh, to Mary Agnes, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J Phillips, Bacchus Marsh

Witnesses to the marriage were Packington Joseph Vallence (Bill's brother) and Tess O'Loughlin (Mary's sister).

At the time, Mary was living in Bacchus Marsh and Bill was living at Waterloo Rd, Trafalgar in the La Trobe Valley. The connection with Ascot Vale may have been the proximity to Mary's sister Tess.2,17,18
 
The couple eventually settled in Caulfield, at 84 Bealiba Rd.3
 
Bill and Mary used to visit Bill's brothers George and Harry in Cohuna in northern Victoria. Bill's mother had died in 1906 and his father in 1914.19,20,21,22
 
Bill was unwell since returning from the war where he was gassed. William Vallence died of acute appendicitis at Caulfield Military hospital on 21 February 1932, aged 52.3,23,8,5
Image: Carol's Headstone Photos
OBITUARY
Corporal William Vallence
War injuries have accounted for yet another gap in the ranks of the soldiers who returned. Corporal Wm Vallence, whose death occurred last Sunday in Caulfield Military Hospital as a result of acute appendicitis, was one who came back from the war with his health shattered, hastening his end. Born at Maddingley, Bacchus Marsh, he was the youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs James Vallence (who established the Bridge Inn there) and the brother of the late Capt Packington Vallence. When war broke out Corporal William Vallence was among the first to enlist. He left Australia with the 1st contingent on Oct 20th, 1914, and on board were six other Light Horsemen from Bacchus Marsh district in the same regiment (Messrs Wm Morton, Colin Todd, Maurice Whelan, Chas Edwards, Wm Clarke and Wm McKenzie). After three months in Egypt they went to the Dardanelles, where they encamped until after the landing. Returning to Cairo for the horses they returned to Gallipoli, where Corporal Vallence was severely wounded in fighting for Holly Spur shortly after the battle of Lone Pine. Recovering after some months in hospital in England be was back in Egypt in March, 1916, being later drafted to France in the Divisional Squadron of Light Horse. He was gassed while in France. He returned to Australia early in 1919. Persistent illness marred his return to civilian life and for three years he underwent treatment at the Caulfield Military Hospital. For the past four and a half years he held the position of commissionaire at the offices of the Metropolitan Gas Co, where he was popular with all. The sudden illness which resulted in his death has dealt relatives and friends a severe shock. He leaves a widow (formerly Miss M Phillips, of Bacchus Marsh) for whom the deepest sympathy is felt. The funeral took place at the Maddingley cemetery on Tuesday, where Rev Father Curran officiated at the graveside. Among the numerous floral tributes were wreaths from the Metropolitan Gas Co and the Bacchus Marsh Branch of the RSSILA.8,24,25

 

Citations

  1. [S250] Death Index Victoria 1921-1985: Index to deaths in Victoria, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1998, death registration no. 974.
  2. [S382] Maurice William John Vallence and Mary Agnes Phillips, marriage registration no. 10598, 6 December 1923.
  3. [S220] 'Family notices: Deaths', The Argus, 1848-1957, newspaper, Argus Office, 23 February 1932, p. 1, viewed 3 September 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4431022
  4. [S44] Roylyn Phillips, personal communication, 12 July 1996.
  5. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, William Vallence entry, death registration no. 974, 1932.
  6. [S577] Hnery Vallence, birth registration no. 112, 10 November 1880.
  7. [S574] 'William Vallence', First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, control symbol 'Vallence William', service record, 15 September 1914.
  8. [S572] 'Obituary: Corporal William Vallence', Melton Express, 1905-1943, newspaper, Christopher Crisp, 27 February 1932, p. 2, viewed 17 May 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254718328
  9. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Corio, sub-division of Bacchus Marsh, 1919.
  10. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Corio, sub-division of Bacchus Marsh, 1921.
  11. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Gippsland, Victorian division of Walhalla, subdivision of Moe, 1924.
  12. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Ballarat, sub-division of Bacchus Marsh, 1926.
  13. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, Commonwealth division of Henty, Victorian division of Caulfield, subdivision of Caulfield East, 1931.
  14. [S2] Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour, online, presented by the Bacchus Marsh RSL Sub-branch, viewed 26 May 2020, http://bacchusmarsh.avenueofhonour.org.au/index.php
  15. [S578] 'Bacchus Marsh: Soldier wins Military Medal', Ballarat Courier, 1867-, newspaper, 24 April 1918, p. 6, viewed 26 May 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75184605
  16. [S276] 'The Empire's call', Bacchus Marsh Express, 1857-1983, newspaper, Christopher Crisp & George Land, 23 March 1918, p. 3, viewed 13 April 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74227677
  17. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Maribyrnong, subdivision of Ascot Vale, 1924.
  18. [S220] 'Marriages: Vallence-Phillips', The Argus, 1848-1957, newspaper, Argus Office, 19 January 1924, p. 13, viewed 19 July 2018, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1916615
  19. [S44] Roylyn Phillips, personal communication, 29 April 2013.
  20. [S220] 'Deaths: Vallence', The Argus, 1848-1957, newspaper, Argus Office, 23 February 1932, p. 1, viewed 3 September 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4431022
  21. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Margaret 'Vallance' entry, death registration no. 7598, 1906.
  22. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, James 'Vallance' entry, death registration no. 13920, 1914.
  23. [S276] 'The Empire's call', Bacchus Marsh Express, 1857-1983, newspaper, Christopher Crisp & George Land, 23 March 1918, p. 3, viewed 13 April 1924, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74227677
  24. [S246] 'Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria', Wikipedia, online, Wikimedia Foundation, Metropolitan Gas Company was later part of the Gas and Fuel Corporation, viewed 27 May 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
  25. [S246] 'Returned and Services League of Australia', Wikipedia, online, Wikimedia Foundation, RSSILA is the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, later the RSL, viewed 18 May 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…