William George Rosekelly

William George Rosekelly

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Charters Towers, Queensland
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 8 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 140lbs 63.503 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Engine driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	c/- Post Office Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Mary Ann Rosekelly
Military Information
Reg Number	[ 6323]
Date of Enlistment	3 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	18 Sep 1916 ‒ 2 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray
Date of Return	15 Nov 1919 ‒ 26 Dec 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Ypiranga
Fate	WIA 20 Sep 1917 Polygon Wood, Belgium Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Enlistment papers were signed in Kalgoorlie.

War Service

Bill entered Blackboy Hill camp on 3 Apr 1916 and a fortnight later was allocated to the 20th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion and following the completion of their training in Australia embarked with them for England aboard the HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray. Following a period with the 3rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury plains, Bill proceeded overseas to France on HMT Golden Eagle from Folkestone on 17 Dec 1916.

Taken on strength by the 11th Battalion on 17 Jan 1917, he was posted to 'C' Company before being hospitalised with the 1st Field Ambulance on 17 Feb 1917. Passed on to a Casualty Clearing Station on 2 Mar 1917 , he remained with them until 24 Mar 1917 with suspected enteric. On 20 Sep 1917 Bill was wounded in action while participating in an action at Polygon Wood. Battalion casualties were said to be light, but Bill sustained a bullet wound to the head. Seen by the 139th Field Ambulance he was passed back to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station and placed on an Ambulance Train for Camiers where he was admitted to the 11th General Hospital on 21 Sep 1917. Healing, he was released to the 14th Convalescent Depot in Trouville on 4 Oct 1917. Well again he was released to duty on 26 Oct 1917.

Bill rejoined the 11th Battalion on 11 Nov 1917, and was granted leave to the UK between 22 Dec 1917 and 5 Jan 1918. Returning late from leave, he was charged with "When on active service being absent without leave from 7:30am on 6 Jan 1918 until noon on 12 Jan 1918. For this he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 and the forfeit of 14 days pay.(See notes). On 1 Jul 1918 Bill was again in need of hospital attention, this time for influenza, returning to duty on 7 Jul 1918 and rejoining the battalion on 12 Jul 1918 at La Kreule where they were training and rebuilding. Bill then remained with them until the Armistice.

Transferred to the 6th Motor Transport Coy on 21 Nov 1918 , he enjoyed leave again between 11 and 25 Feb 1919, and on 24 May 1919 was transferred to the 4th Motor Transport Company. Proceeded to the UK on 10 Oct 1919, and granted leave from 26 Sep to 9 Oct 1919, the balance owing to be taken in Australia, ex Grave Services. It appears that his service, post Armistice was with the War Grades Detachment. On his return to Australa Bill was discharged by the 5th Military District on 3 Apr 1920.

Notes

Field punishment could be awarded by a court martial or a commanding officer for any offence committed on active service.

There were two categories field punishment. Field punishment No. 1 consisted of heavy labouring duties, possibly being restrained in handcuffs or fetters, and being tied to a post or wheel. Field punishment No. 2 differed, in that the offender was not liable to be attached to a fixed object.

"All offenders awarded field punishment shall march with their unit, carry their arms and accoutrements, perform all their military duties as well as extra fatigue duties, and be treated as defaulters."