William Rawlinson

William Rawlinson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	19 Jan 1877
Place of Birth	Preston, Lancashire, England
Death	20 May 1952
Place of Death	Nailsworth, South Australia
Age at Enlistment	38 years, 4 months
Description	5'3" (1.60m) tall ; 137 lbs 62.142 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Assurance agent
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Inverall House', Bunbury road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Thomas Rawlinson
Military Information
Reg Number	2772
Date of Enlistment	21 May 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements, transferred to 51st Battalion & to the Postal Corps
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	19 Oct 1918 ‒ 23 Dec 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Sardinia
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Bill had married in England on 27 Sep 1897, but separated from his wife in March 1913 when he travelled to Australia. His wife Edith (nee Dobson) lived in Preston, Lancashire. There was a requirement for him to make payment to her, and in 1916 he was reminded of this and required by the Army to make an allotment of 1 shilling per day to her.

War Service

He was originally enlisted with Regimental No 2440 as part of 7th reinforcement draft to the 11th Battalion, but later transferred to the 6th reinforcement draft for 28th Battalion, where his regimental number was 2772. Bill travelled with 6th reinforcement draft to Egypt before on 3 Mar 1916 being transferred yet again, this time to the newly formed 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt.

He travelled with the 51st Battalion to France from Alexandria on 5 Jun 1916 aboard the HMT Arcadian.

On 21 Oct 1916 he was attached to the Australian Army Postal Corps. On 16 Nov 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Anzac HQ Unit before being treated by the 13th Field Ambulance from 23 - 29 May 1917 with Synovitis of the right knee. Admitted to the 13th General Hospital on 29 May 1917 in France, and on 5 Jun 1917 Bill was embarked on the HS Jan Breydel at Boulogne for England.

In England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Shorncliffe, before a brief time in the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 29 Jun 1917. Bill was granted furlough from 21 Jul - 24 Aug 1917 before returning to France to join the Australian Army Post Office in Rouelles, attached to the 18th Infantry Brigade.

In September Bill was attached to the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade where he also carried out postal duties. He was later held against the headquarters of the 1st Division Supply Column. On 11 Jul 1918 he was accidentally injured (reinjured his knee?) and treated first by the 136th Field Ambulance for five days before being transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 16 Jul 1918. On 19 Jul 1918 he was placed on Ambulance Train No.2 and the next day Bill was admitted to the 53rd General Hospital in Boulogne. On 31 Aug 1918 Bill was released to the Australian Base Depot in Le Havre before being invalided to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth, England on 8 Aug 1918.

In Weymouth on 17 Aug 1918 he was charged with failing to salute an officer of His Majesty's forces - punished by being confined to barracks for 3 days. Back in Australia he was AWOL for 2 days, 21 - 23 Feb 1919, while in the 8th Australian General Hospital waiting for his discharge. Discharged as medically unfit 18 Apr 1919 at 5th Military District.

Post War

Feb 1951 address was 19 Stevenson street, Nailsworth, South Australia. Married again in South Australia and died 20 May 1952. RAWLINSON - On May 20 at his residence, 19 Stephenson street, Nailsworth, William beloved husband of Effie, and loved stepfather of Kath, Bert, and Wal, aged 75 years.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial