William Percival Nairn
From Our Contribution
 Ancestry.com | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Payneham, South Australia |
| Death | 28 Jun 1945, aged 52 |
| Place of Death | Hollywood Repatriation Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 9 months |
| Description | 5' 5½" (1.66m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Cardup, Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr William Nairn |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3189 |
| Date of Enlistment | 13 Nov 1916 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 46th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement, A Coy transferred to 4th Machine Gun Battalion /4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Dec 1916 - 3 Mar 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A34 Persic |
| Date of Return | 21 Jun 1919 - 3 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Königin Luise |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 28 Mar 1918 near Albert Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Following barely a month's training at Blackboy Hill camp, William and his reinforcement draft are shipped to England where they enter the 12th Training Battalion at Codford.
A further 4 months of training passes before William proceeds overseas to France via Folkestone on 2 Jul 1917. Taken on strength by the 46th Battalion on 21 Jul 1917 in the Doulieu area along with 6 other reinforcements for the unit. At the time the battalion was training, preparatory to rejoining the fray. Appointed Lance Corporal on 30th October 1917.
On 28 Mar 1918 the unit was resting, having marched some distance to place themselves in front of the Enemy's advance on Albert, when a shell landed in the midst of A Company, killing 5 men. No other item of interest is reported so we might assume this was the cause of Nairn's injury, a shell wound to his left thigh and hip.
He was seen first by the 12th Australian Field Ambulance before passing through the Casualty Clearing Station to the 18th US General Hospital on 6 Apr 1918. Evacuated same day to Bath War Hospital on the HMHS Newhaven, and on his release in June from the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford he was transferred to the Machine Gun Section.
After training Nairn was sent back to France via Folkestone where he joined the Machine Gun Depot on 14 Sep 1918 and was taken on strength by the 4th Machine Gun Battalion two days later as they prepared to join the attack on the Hindenberg Outpost Line.
Remained in France after the Armistice until 29 Apr 1919 when he returned to England to prepare for Australia.
Discharged 5th Military District on 10 Sep 1919.
Post War
In 1936 married Ethel May Coles. Ethel died on 29 Jun 1976 in Palmerston street, Mosman park, aged 82. Children were Yvonne and Joan
Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1943 Cardup estate, Beenup, farmer.
In WW2 served in the Militia with Reg No W29319. He served from 31 Oct 1940 till his death from illness on 28 Jun 1945, as a Warrant Officer Class 1 with the 26th Works Company Citizens Military Forces.
Notes