William Arthur Shepherd
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 28 Sep 1877 |
| Place of Birth | Subton, Surrey, England |
| Death | 25 Dec 1950 |
| Place of Death | Maddington, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 38 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5'8 ¾" (1.73m) tall ; 141 lbs 63.956 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Brickmaker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Edith Emma Shepherd |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2039 |
| Date of Enlistment | 21 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 10 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk |
| Date of Return | 1 Nov 1917 ‒ 25 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A68 Anchises |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Kelmscott War Memorial (South panel) Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Had 12 years with the Scots Guards prior to arriving in Australia. Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 brickmaker at 2nd avenue, Kelmscott with Edith
War Service
Entered 56 Depot Company at Blackboy Hill on 21 Mar 1916, and was allocated to the 20th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion as a Temporary Corporal on 13 Apr 1916. On 3 May he was sent to NCO's School, and on completion of the course he was allocated to the 21st draft. However, on 7 Sep 1916 Bill was reallocated to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, travelling with them to England.
On arrival in Plymouth, England he entered the 3rd Division's Training Battalion as a Private, and proceeded to France on the HMT Invicta from Folkestone on 4 Feb 1917.
Bill was taken on strength by the 44th Battalion on 8 Feb 1917 as the battalion was coming out of the line near Armentiès for a rest. By 21 Apr Bill was ill enough to visit the 9th Australian Field Ambulance who on 30 Apr 1917 referred him on to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Placed on Ambulance Train No. 6 on 1 May 1917, he was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux on 3 May 1917 before being embarked the same day on HMHS St Patrick in Boulogne for England.
Bill was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital in Camberwell suffering from bronchitis. Well enough to be granted furlough from 23 Jul to 6 Aug 1917 he then reported to No 3 Command Depot in Hurdcott. Reclassified, there was an attempt to get him well enough to return to France, but it was unsuccessful. By 1 Nov 1917 is it decided that his health will not improve enough for him to re-enter the fight, so he was sent home for early discharge.
Medical discharge for chronic bronchitis occurred at the 5th Military District on 24 Jan 1918.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1950 bricklayer living in Yule street, Maddington. Edith died on 8 Dec 1964 in Maddington.
Notes