William Valentine Steele gravesite

William was born in the Women's Refuge and Infants Home Turbot Street Brisbane to a young 20 year old Ellen Steele. In the first 8 years of life he grew up in the Glamorganvale area not far from Ipswich. He attended the local State School under the name of William Schekoske-his stepfather's name. He formed a bond with Valentine Schekoske-his step grandfather and in 1898 with his parents lived on Valentine's property until they headed north to Wondai in 1903.William adopted Valentine as his middle name when enlisting for WW1. At Wondai he attended Mondure North Provisional School along with his half brothers and sisters. In 1906 he faced a future without a father as Xavier (his stepfather) passed away.His mother Ellen Schekoske nee Steele marries a John Kluck in 1908 and the age of 14 William had a new stepfather. William leaves school at age 13 and is working on his family farm. The farm totalled a massive 320 acres and ran along Flats Road Chelmsford. At the age of 21 William enlists and leaves on the 31st January 1916 onboard the Wandilla for his great adventure. He is initially attached to the 25th Battalion 9-12 reinforcements but transferred to the 49th Battalion in April 1916. William is seriously wounded on the attack on Mouquet Farm on the 3/9/1916 and is sent back to Old Blighty to recuperate. Whilst recovering at Monte Video Campsite Weymouth William decides to take an early mark for New Year.He takes leave on the 29th December 1916 and is absent until the 3rd January 1917. At some point William sends home to his mother a tapestry from France which is framed and still with us today.William is injured on 4 more occasions and on the 5th of April 1918 and only 6 months from coming home he is mortally wounded. The A.I.F. sent home photographs of his grave to his mother which is also still with us today. I am proud of my ancestor.