William Francis Combs

William Francis Combs

better photo wanted
Personal Information
Date of Birth	1 Jan 1898
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	11 Dec 1976, aged 78
Place of Death	Palmyra, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 6 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 158lbs 71.668 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Cleaner
Religion	Methodist
Address	Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr George Henry Combs
Military Information
Reg Number	2885
Date of Enlistment	11 Jul 1916
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return	17 Apr 1920 ‒ 10 Jun 1920
Ship Returned On	SS Bahia Castillo
Fate	Wounded in action 12 Oct 1917 at Passchendaele Wounded in action 24 Mar 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

William was the third of eight children to George Henry Combs and Mary Ann Breeding. William applied to the West Australian General Railways for employment, and passed the selection board 27 February 1914 and passed the medical examination before commencing work as a Junior Porter at Fremantle Goods depot on 9 February 1915 with a wage of 4 shillings and 6 pence per day (45 cents). By the 18 November 1915 he was working at Northam on the same pay, and then on 1 January 1916 his daily pay rose to 5 shillings and 6 pence (55 cents) per day. On the 10 January he was appointed as a cleaner with a new daily rate of 6 shillings and 6 pence (65 cents) per day. He was granted leave to join the AIF on 6 July 1916.

War Service

Bill entered camp on 11 Jul 1916 and on 1 Aug 1916 was transferred to the 8th reinforcement group for the 51st Battalion. Obviously showing aptitude, on 4 Sep 1916 Bill was moved up to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. The journey to England lasted from 9 Nov 1916 until 10 Jan 1917 aboard HMAT A8 Argyllshire, and on arrival at Devonport they were sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for trench warfare on the continent.

Bill proceeded to France through Folkestone on 9 May 1917 and was taken on the strength of the 51st Battalion on 13 May 1917 at Buire in France. On 1 Oct 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal before being wounded in action on 12 Oct 1917. Seen by the 3rd Field Ambulance he was sent to the 14th General Hospital in Boulogne on 13 Oct 1917 who treated him before releasing him to the 1st Convalescent Depot on 16 Oct 1917.

Bill rejoined the battalion in the field on 27 Nov 1917. On 10 Mar 1918 Bill was granted leave in the UK, rejoining his unit on 3 Apr 1918. Three weeks later on 24 Mar 1918 Bill was wounded in action a second time with a bullet wound to his left arm. Treated by the 2/3 HC Field Ambulance he was passed to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station on 25 Apr 1918, and then the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen on 26 Apr 1918. On 28 Apr 1918 he boarded HMHS St David for England where the next day he was admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. A month later on 28 May 1918 he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford. Granted furlough from 31 May 1918 until 14 Jun 1918 after which he reported to NO. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.

In August Bill was on a training course at Devonport before spending 9 days in hospital at Bulford. On 16 Oct 1918 he was dealt with for "Being in Bishopstron at 2305 hours on 8 Oct 1918 without a pass. For this he was admonished.

On 1 May 1919 at Sutton Veny he was made Temporary Corporal and on 1 Sep 1919 acting Sergeant. On 4 Dec 1919 he was detached from the permanent Cadre, retaining the rank of Corporal and on 27 Dec 1919 at Sutton Veny he married 22 year old Ellen Kate Wheeler.

On 20 Jan 1920 he was sent on indefinite leave until a suitable ship was available. They departed London, England on 17 April 1920 a board SS Bahia Castillofor Western Australia, arriving on 10 Jun 1920. William he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 13 Aug 1920.

Post War

Ellen, his first wife died in 1922 at Northam and the following year he married Carmel Mary Monica Tully. He appears on the Australian Electoral Rolls for 1925 with his wife Carmel, living at Duke Street, Northam, WA, a railway employee. William had been re-employed by the railways and remained in that employment as a driver up to 1972. He and his wife lived in Albany in 1958 and returned to Melville about 1963. He was last recorded on the electoral roll in 1972, still living Melville.

Notes

For further information on this soldier, or for more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011