William Thomson

William Thomson

Gosnells Local History Library
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years. 5 months
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 165lbs 74.843 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; auburn hair
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Southern River road, Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr G Thompson
Military Information
Reg Number	6649
Date of Enlistment	3 Jan 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	25 Jan 1919 ‒ 3 Mar 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Fate	WIA 20 Sep 1917 Menin Road Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 3 Jan 1917 and almost immediately was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion and sent to England. During the voyage to England he required the service of the ship's hospital from 2 - 9 Feb 1917. On arrival in England he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone to prepare for service on the Western Front. Bill was AWOL from midnight 21 May 1917 until 2:00am on 22 May 1917 for which he was awarded 1 day confined to camp and forfeit of 2 day's pay.

On 16 Jul 1917 Bill proceeded overseas through Southampton, and after more that a week waiting, he joined the 28th Battalion on 31 Jul 1917, one of 287 reinforcements that joined the battalion at Cassel as it was rebuilding. On 20 Sep 1917 the 28th Battalion was a major participant in the attack on Westhoek Ridge later known as the Battle for Menin Road. During the battle Bill received shrapnel injuries to his head and left thigh. Seen by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance on 20 Sep 1917, Bill was passed back to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station the same day. On 21 Sep 1917 Bill was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital at Le Tréport where he was treated until 23 Sep 117 when it was decided to evacuate him to England.

On 25 Sep 1917 Bill was embarked on HMAT A69 Warilda for England. On arrival Bill was admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth on 26 Sep 1917. He was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 18 Oct 1917, and transferred to Weymouth on 22 Oct 1917. On 29 Oct 1917 he was moved to the No.3 Command Depot at Hurdcott where he was medically reclassified B1a2. On 6 Nov 1917 he was admitted to hospital again, released to duty on 19 Nov 1917. Hospitalised again on 16 Jan 1918, this time in the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Hurdcott with bronchitis, he was released on 20 Jun 1918, but before he could enjoy his leave he was admitted to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield on 24 Jun 1918. Two days later he was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Codford with VD. Discharged to duty on 7 Oct 1918 after 101 days ineffective service.

Although he briefly was engaged in training at the Overseas Training Brigade, it was not likely that he would be sent back to France, and he was an early returnee to Australia.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 15 Apr 1919.

Post War

William appears in two images of the Gosnells Football Club. Taken in 1921 and 1922, he was the vice-captain and the team were the Premiers in both years.