BY THE BOOK
Gordon William Akeroyd - 59th Battalion

Born in Melbourne in 1888 to John and Ellen Akeroyd and educated at Melbourne University, Gordon William Akeroyd enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Swan Hill in December 1914 and was sent to camp at Broadmeadows for officer training. At the time of enlistment he was working as a Clerk of the Courts in Benalla.

In March 1915 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant before embarking for the Middle East on board the transport ship Euripides on the 12th of June 1915, travelling as part of the 24th infantry battalion.

After disembarking at Alexandria he went to camp at Heliopolis before embarking for Gallipoli on board the Nile in late August. From the 5th of September he undertook operations on Gallipoli near Courtney's Post and was in charge of the number 2 section in the attack on Lone Pine.

He was made a Captain on the 8th of December 1915 before returning to Egypt and camp at Tel-El-Kebir in early January 1916. In March he transferred to the 59th infantry battalion and in June embarked for France on board the transport Kinfaus Castle . After arriving he took a train to northern France , arriving near Steenbecque before moving to Sailly.

On the 19th of July he took part in the allied attacks on Fromelles as part of the 59th battalion, being wounded in action with shrapnel in his neck and arm. His injuries saw him evacuated to the UK on the hospital ship St Denis and admitted to the 1st London General Hospital . After spending the rest of 1916 and all of 1917 encamped in the UK he returned to France in early 1918, rejoining his unit near Villers-Bretonneux and then Heilly and Dernancourt.

In July 1918 he was wounded a second time near Amiens , this time receiving shrapnel in both legs. His wounds saw him evacuated to the UK yet again and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital . In November he left the UK , bound for Melbourne , being discharged in March 1919.

In 1923 Gordon married Dorothy Webster. The couple had two daughters, Ruth (who passed in 1931) and Helen (who passed in 2008) and resided in Vido, a large four bedroom house in Greenwich, a suburb of Sydney.

Careerwise he was appointed chairman of the Federal Public Service appeals board for NSW and Queensland and throughout his career continued his work in the legal system.

Gordon William Akeroyd passed away in 1959 and was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Memorial Garden . 

Research Notes:

1) According to John Akeroyd's obituary Gordon had five siblings however I can only find record of two; Joseph (b1882) and Beatrice Olive (b1886).

2) John Akeroyd was a sergeant of police in Victoria .

3) Joseph Akroyd saw service in WW1 as a captain with the 38th battalion. Before the war he had been a teacher and following his return he became Inspector of Schools before taking up an appointment as the Inspector General of Penal Establishments. There is quite a bit written about Joseph Akeroyd and his role within the prison system in Victoria .

4) Joseph's son; John Finch Akeroyd saw service in WW2 with the 2/22nd battalion and was awarded the MBE for his work while a prisoner of war.

5) Helen Akeroyd studied medicine at the University of Sydney , becoming a doctor. During the Vietnam War she worked in a medical capacity at various camps around Australia , attaining the rank of Major.

6) As well as his mentions in Bean, Akeroyd is also mentioned several times and featured in a photograph in Robin Corfield's book Give Me Back My Dear Old Cobbers.

7) Gordon had quite an extensive art collection which was auctioned off following the passing of his daughter in 2008.

Photos:

1) Gordon Akeroyd portrait photo at camp in Broadmeadows AWM DAOF040

2) A group photo of 59th battalion officers AWM H12914. Akeroyd is 2nd from left in front row. The photo also features Frank Rupert Hewitt, 3rd from right in the front row.

3) Gordon's original medal trio along with 1967 Gallipoli medal in box (with certificate), a photo of his wife Dorothy and friend, a small silver plate frame, a letter written by Dorothy to a friend, a small sketch of a house drawn by Akeroyd and Helen Akeroyd's National Medal, Reserve Forces Decoration and Australian Defence Medal.

4) Gordon's copies of Bean's volumes 2 and 3 (which mention him) his return from active service badge, a book of war poetry that belonged to Dorothy, Scott's Voyage of Discovery (which was awarded to Helen at school) and 3 framed cartoon drawings of Akeroyd by Herbert Dean O'Connell (2236) who was KIA in late 1917. Judging by the content of the cartoons (Akeroyd being a stickler for the rules) it is clear he ruled his men with an iron fist but at the same time was respected by them and had a sense of humour.

5) The library chair of Gordon Akeroyd, which previously belonged to Joseph Akeroyd and was located at Pentridge Prison.