William Plant
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Manchester, England |
| Death | unknown |
| Place of Death | unknown |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 11 months |
| Description | Height not recorded. Weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. Scar on neck. |
| Occupation | fitter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | NOK 33 Hineman street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Emma Plant |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4549 |
| Date of Enlistment | 8 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 14th Reinforcements trans to AA Postal Corps after Armistice / 4th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 12 Feb 1916 - 11 Mar 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A28 Miltiades |
| Date of Return | 9 Aug 1919 - 20 Sep 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A40 Ceramic |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 30 Aug 1916 Mouquet Farm Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
After 5 months training in WA he joined the 14th Reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, having originally been part of the 10th reinforcement draft.
Eventually taken on strength of the battalion in France on 17 Jul 1916. Soon after, in the battle for Mouquet Farm he was wounded with a GSW to the head. On 22 Mar 1917 he was transferred to the 70th Battalion for a month before rejoining the 16th Battalion on 21 Apr 1917, joining them as they began the process of reorganising after their massive losses at 1st Bullecourt.
In Oct 1917 he was hospitalised in the 1st Western General Hospital with 'trench fever'. In Apr 1918 at Larkhill and in Aug 1918 at Codford he was found guilty of being AWOL, and doesn't rejoin the 16th Battalion in the field until 19 Sep 1918, described in the unit War Diary as a very quiet day, and the last day in which the 16th saw action. - 3 KIA and 10 WIA.
In Dec 1918 he was again transferred to a hospital in England, this time with Influenza. On recovery he was posted to the Postal Corps - 8 Dec 1918.
Before returning to Australia with his wife and child he undertook a three month work placement with a firm of accountants.
By 1924 he was back living in England, requesting that his war medals to be sent to 14 Freeman avenue, Ashton-on-Lyne, Lancashire.
Post War
Married 23 year old Mabel Fleming while in the UK - 26 Aug 1917 in the Durham Registry Office. While he returned to take his discharge in Perth, in November 1924 he was living in Lancashire, England.
Notes
Only 3 men named Plant enlisted in WA. 140 Frederick Thorneycroft; 2831 Joseph Henry; and 4549 William. This entry on the Kelmscott memorial might simply have the wrong initial, and it should be Frederick Thorneycroft. Alternatively William had some connection to Kelmscott that I have not yet discovered.