William Atkins

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Sydney, New South Wales
Death	4 Jul 1918
Place of Death	Hamel, France
Age at Enlistment	31 years, 1 month
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 133 lbs (60.3kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair.
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Methodist
Address	NOK c/- Victoria Park Post Office
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Nancy Jane Atkins
Military Information
Reg Number	2530
Date of Enlistment	30 May 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Fate	Wounded in Action 4 Oct 1917 Killed in Action 4 Jul 1918
Monument	Banjup Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Bill entered Blackboy Hill camp on 13 Jun 1916 and on 1 Aug 1916 he was assigned to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion. Obviously his training went well as on 4 Sep 1916 he was shifted into the 5th reinforcement draft, and embarked with them in Fremantle on the Argyllshire on 9 Nov 1916, disembarking in Devonport, England, on 10 Jan 1917, and he marched into 11th Training Battalion at Lark Hill on the Salisbury Plain.

On 4 Mar 1917 he was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital with mumps before being discharged healthy on 10 May 1917, returning to the 11th Training Battalion.

Bill proceeded overseas to France, on 16 July 1917 through Southampton and on arrival marched into the 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, on 17 July 1917.

Evacuated to hospital on 24 July 1917 when he was admitted to the 2nd General Hospital, Le Havre on 24 July 1917 with a sprained right knee. Discharged, 10 August 1917, he marched into 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, the same day.

Bill proceeded to join the 44th Battalion on 24 August 1917, and was taken on strength of 44th Battalion as they moved into rear midway between the coast and Hazebrouck on 26 August 1917.

Wounded in action on 4 October 1917 during the battalion's advance in what became known as the Battle for Broodseinde, he was admitted to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station with a shrapnel wound, left shoulder. Passed to No 2 Canadian General Hospital on 5 October 1917, he was released to No 3 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, on 12 October 1917 and finally discharged on 17 October 1917 to the 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Rouelles, on 18 October 1917.

Bill rejoined the 44th Battalion on 30 October 1917 at St Pierre where they were resting and rebuilding.

Granted leave to the United Kingdom on 6 February 1918 he rejoined the battalion on 23 February 1918 at Nieppe where they were parading in front of General Birdwood.

Bill was killed in action on 4 July 1918 when he and his battalion were part of the very successful Battle for Hamel.

• File:Viller Bretonneux Cemetery 1.jpg

  Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission