William Richard (Billy) Orr

William Richard (Billy) Orr

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1883
Place of Birth	Sale, Victoria
Death	6 Jun 1963, aged 80
Place of Death	Maddington, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years old
Description	5'9½" (1.77m) tall ; 155lbs 70.307 kg ; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Secretary
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Ellen Orr
Military Information
Reg Number	3467
Date of Enlistment	3 Apr 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 9th reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	11 Dec 1918 ‒ 20 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Saxon
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

12 months in militia Artillery.

Electoral Roll entries: 1910 - 1912 at 168 Harold street, Perth, civil servant; 1916 Gosnells, farmer.

War Service

William entered Blackboy Hill camp on 3 Apr 1916 and a month later was allocated to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. From 9 Jun until 7 Jul 1916 he attended the NCO School at Claremont. On his return to Blackboy Hill he trained with the 77th, 78th, 80th and 94th Depot Companies, until on 9 Jan 1917 he was allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. On 29 Jan 1917 he was appointed Sergeant for the voyage to England.

On arrival in England he relinquished the rank of Sergeant, and was a Corporal while with the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. He also participated in the 36th Physical and Bayonet Training Course at Aldershot from 6 Aug to 1 Sep 1917, and on 23 Nov 1917 he was appointed Acting Sergeant. Again he relinquished rank on Proceeding overseas to France through Southampton on 18 Feb 1918.

William was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion on 25 Feb 1918, and on 9 Mar 1918 he was appointed Lance Corporal. On 25 Apr 1918 near Villers-Bretonneux he was wounded in action, receiving a shell wound to the neck. Seen by the 25th Field Ambulance he was sent to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen on 28 Apr 1918. On 1 May 1918 he embarked on HMHS Panama for England. On arrival he was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital's Stourbridge Section in Birmingham. Discharged from hospital on 11 May 1918 he reported to the No2 Command Depot who the next day transferred him to the No 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott.

From June through to December 1918 William was moved from one base depot to another in Weymouth, Hurdcott, Sutton Veny and Longbridge Deverill before making his way back to Australia.

Discharged at the 3rd Military District (Melbourne) on 1 Mar 1919.

Post War

In 1924 William married Thelma Brookwood (1899 - 12 Feb 1985)

Electoral Roll entries: 1921 Gosnells, farmer; 1925 - 1958 at River road, Maddington, secretary.