William Albert Nicholls

William Albert Nicholls

Personal Information
Date of Birth	21 Dec 1914
Place of Birth	Canning Mills, Western Australia
Death	27 Sep 1992
Place of Death	Ashfield, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 2 months
Description	5' 8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; grey blue eyes ; sandy hair ; Appendix scar
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	River road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Nancy Eileen Nicholls
Military Information
Reg Number	W38979 & WX36822
Date of Enlistment	21 Feb 1942 & 10 Jul 1943
Rank	Sapper
Unit/Formation	8th Australian Mechanical Equipment Company
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	23 Aug 1945 ‒ 1 Sep 1945
Transport Details	SS Bontekoe Sydney to Lae, New Guinea
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	23 Dec 1945 ‒ 29 Dec 1945
Transport Details	SS Lidvard Lae, New Guinea to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1938 Bill married Nancy Eileen Whitford (1912 - 1988)

War Service

Prior to enlisting in the CMF on 21 Feb 1942, Bill had served with the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC). He was called up for full time duty from 13 Apr 1942. On 17 Apr 1942 Bill was sent to the 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Northam where on 21 May 1942 Bill was admitted to the 118th Australian General Hospital. He returned to his unit on 29 May 1942. On 29 Jun 1942 Bill was sent to the Motor Transport Training Wing until 22 Jul 1942 when he was admitted to the 38th Australian Camp Hospital. Bill returned to his unit on 30 Jul 1942. On 7 Aug 1942 he was reported to be sick at home, but on 15 Aug 1942 a Warrant was issued for his arrest on the grounds of Desertion. On his return to his unit on 7 Aug 1942 he had a medical certificate signed by Armadale local, Dr Streich, and the Court of Enquiry was cancelled.

On 3 Sep 1942 Bill was transferred to 29th Australian Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery's 420th Gun Station until 6 Nov 1942 when he was posted to the 418th Gun Station. He returned to the 420th Gun Station on 9 Jan 1943. On 22 Jan 1943 Bill entrained for the Northern Territory via Adelaide as a member of the 5th Australian Anti Aircraft Battery which had the role of defending the Hughes and Strauss airbases. Bill changed his enlistment status to the 2nd AIF on 9 Mar 1943 when at Noonamaah in the Northern Territory. On 10 Jun 1943 Bill was admitted to the 107th Australian General Hospital with malaria, returning to his unit on 25 Jun 1943. Bill was graded as a Group 3 Driver / Mechanic On 10 Sep 1943, and in late 1944 his unit was re-structtured as the 101st Australian Anti Aircraft Regiment, moving to New South Wales on 30 Nov 1944.

With a significantly reduced need for anti-aircraft personnel, Bill was transferred on 22 Feb 1945 to the 1st Australian Base Depot Personnel before on 3 Mar 1945 transferring to the 3rd RAE Training Battalion. On 3 Apr 1945 he was transferred to the 1st RAE Training Battalion. Bill's next move was on 19 Jun 1945, was to the 8th Australian Mechanical Equipment Company. On 23 Aug 1945 they embarked aboard SS Bontekoe in Sydney for Lae, disembarking there on 1 Sep 1945.

On 2 Nov 1945 Bill was admitted to the 2/7th Australian General Hospital, rejoining his unit on 13 Nov 1945. He was transferred on 23 Dec 1945 to the 2/2nd Australian Forestry Company and embarked with them the same day aboard SS Lidvard in Lae, New Guinea for Brisbane where they arrived on the 28th and disembarked on 29 Dec 1945 in Brisbane. He was then transferred the same day to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. Bill was discharged on 25 Jan 1946.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1963 Dale, farm hand; On 18 Mar 1969 Bill secured a temporary labouring job in Narrogin with the West Australian Government Railways. On 27 Jul 1969 he was made permanent.1977 - 1980 at 15 Fisher street, Ashfield, railway employee