WWI Veteran Honoured with War Grave as Yass Valley Welcomes Family
Published on 24 April 2025
Yass Valley Council will be welcoming the family of Peter Wold to Yass, a First World War veteran whose grave was recently recognised as an official Australian War Grave at the Old Yass Cemetery.
Pictured right: Trooper Peter Wold on active service during WW1.
Trooper Peter Wold served bravely in the 12th Light Horse Regiment, seeing action at Gallipoli and riding in the historic charge of the Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba. Recruited as a horseman from the stock routes of New South Wales, he was amongst the earliest to enlist and one of the fortunate to return home. After leaving Sydney on HMAT Ceramic in 1915, Peter saw considerable conflict across the Turkish, Egyptian and Palestinian theatres of war. He did not return home until 1919, having remained in Egypt to help quell unrest after the Armistice was declared.
Picture: Trooper Peter Wold's official Australian War Grave in Old Yass Cemetery installed in 2024.
Peter later settled in the Yass area, passing away in 1977 at the Yass War Veterans Home ‘Linton’. Until recently, he lay in an unmarked grave in the Old Yass Cemetery.
Determined to honour Peter’s service, the Wold family applied to the Office of Australian War Graves for official war grave recognition, based on the understanding that his death was linked to his war service. With the support of Yass Valley Council, a formal war grave headstone was installed in late 2024.
Picture: Site of Trooper Peter Wold's unmarked grave in Old Yass Cemetery
As interest in Peter’s war grave grew and the story began to unfold, the Wold family discovered a unique family connection to the Light Horse Brigade over 100 years on. Two of Peter’s step great-grandsons are currently serving in the Australian Army. Sergeant Adam Hamilton is on active duty in South Australia whilst, remarkably, his brother, Corporal Joshua Hamilton, is an Army Reservist with the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers, the present-day inheritor of the history and battle honours of Peter’s own 12th Light Horse Regiment.
Peter’s grandson, Stephen Wold, and his wife Hilary (mother of Joshua and Adam), will be visiting Yass this ANZAC Day with their extended family to visit Peter’s now formally recognised resting place and pay tribute to his life and legacy.
“Peter was a proud horseman, a quiet man, and someone who carried the memories of war in silence,” said Stephen. “To see his grave now marked with honour means the world to our family. It’s a reminder that every soldier’s story matters. We are all very proud of Peter’s war service, the role he played, and the sacrifices he and so many others made for our freedom.”
Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones said the Council was proud to play a role in recognising Peter Wold’s service and preserving this important chapter of local history.
“Many of our returned soldiers were laid to rest in graves that did not recognise their service, often with little ceremony. It’s heartening to see families like Peter’s take steps to ensure that service and sacrifice are never forgotten. We are proud to have supported the deserved recognition of his final resting place,” said Mayor Jones.
Picture: Trooper Peter Wold's Official War Grave Headstone installed in Old Yass Cemetery in December 2024
Yass Valley Council extends its deepest gratitude to the Wold family for their dedication to honouring Peter’s memory and looks forward to welcoming them to Yass this ANZAC Day. Members of Peter’s family will be giving readings at both the Yass RSL Sub-Branch’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service (5.45am) and Commemorative March Service (10.45am) in Yass.