William Joseph Hayden

William Joseph Hayden

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1896
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	2 Jan 1964, aged 67
Place of Death	Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 4 months
Description	5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 123lbs 55.792 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Smelter at Royal Mint
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Central Avenue, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs E Hayden
Military Information
Reg Number	3814
Date of Enlistment	30 Aug 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	22 Nov 1915 ‒ 14 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On	RMS Mongolia
Date of Return	16 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916
Ship Returned On	HMAT A63 Karoola
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Prior service with local Citizen Military Forces for 2½ years.

War Service

On entering camp Bill was allocated to the 26th Depot Company ahead of being transferred on 16 Oct 1915 to the 12th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, travelling with them to Egypt. On 2 Mar 1916 he joined the 11th Battalion in Habieta, and was posted to B Company. Along with the rest of his unit Bill embarked in Alexandria on HMT Corsican on 30 Mar 1916, sailing via Malta for Marseilles in France where they arrived early in the morning of 5 Apr 1916. The journey north to the front lines was undertaken in rail wagons. The journey, of which over 200 miles (330 kilometres) was alongside the River Rhone, passed through Lyons, Macon, Chalons, Avilon, Dijon, St Germains, Versailles, Amiens, Abbeville, Étaples, Calais, St Omer and Hazebrouck until their terminus at Godewaersvelde just on the French side of the border with Belgium.

On 9 and 10 Jun 1916 Bill required dental treatment, rejoining the battalion on 11 Jun 1916.

Wounded in action 22 Jul 1916 (records have usual 22-25 June date) when the battalion was engaged in the battle for Poziéres. His shell shock resulting from the enormous barrage fired on them when they succeeded in taking their objectives. Seen initially by the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, followed by the 44th Casualty Clearing Station on 23 Jul 1916 after which he was placed on an Ambulance Train for the 3rd General Hospital in Tréport. Embarked on HMHS Panama in Le Have on 27 Jul 1916 for England, and on arrival there he was admitted to the 4th London General Hospital and treated for his shell shock.

On 16 Oct 1916 he departed Southampton for Australia aboard HMAT A63 Karoola which was then operating as a Hospital Transport. In Australia he was discharged as medically unfit by the 5th Military District on 23 Mar 1917.

Post War

Married Ada Catford Gobbart in Northam district during 1926. Ada died on 27 Nov 1987 aged 87. Leslie A 1929; Margaret I 1929; Elizabeth 1930; Gladys F 1931 Electoral Roll entries: 1921 Meenaar, farmer; 1925 - 1958 Gabbin, farmer; 1963 both at 29 Longroyd street, Mt Lawley, storekeeper.