William John Thompson
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1898 |
| Place of Birth | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Death | 27 Sep 1956 |
| Place of Death | Floreat Park, Western Austrlaia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 136lbs 61.689 kg ; sallow complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Gosnells, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Elizabeth Jane Hall |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 36181 |
| Date of Enlistment | 2 Oct 1916 |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit/Formation | 3rd Field Artillery, 28th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 Nov 1917 ‒ 12 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A15 Port Sydney Melbourne to Suez |
| Date of Return | 21 Jun 1919 ‒ 3 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Königin Luise |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 24 Oct 1916, and on 20 Feb 1917 he was allocated to Artillery which meant he then travelled to Melbourne to undertake specialist training. Arrived in Maribyrnong camp on 21 Mar 1917, he was allocated to the 28th reinforcement draft on 31 May 1918. On 1 Aug 1917 he was admitted to the 5th Australian General Hospital with influenza. Discharged on 22 Aug 1917 to the 14th Australian Auxiliary Hospital, and then to the Macleod Rest Camp on 28 Aug 1917. On 31 Aug 1917 he was fit enough to resume training. On 9 Nov 1917 he boarded HMAT A15 Port Sydney for Port Tewfik in Egypt, arriving there on 12 Dec 1917.
On 18 Dec 1917 Bill embarked on a ship (HMTB 8012) in Alexandria harbour for France, but on 22 Dec 1917 he disembarked in Taranto, Italy. He is recorded as disembarking in Southampton on 4 Jan 1918, ship unknown. On arrival he was sent to the Artillery Training Depot at Heytesbury. Ready for service on the Western front he proceeded overseas to France on 7 May 1918, and on 9 Jun 1918 he was taken on strength by the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade.
From 31 Jan 1919 until 2 Feb 1919 Bill enjoyed leave in France, and soon after his return he was detached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. On 17 Mar 1919 he was granted leave in the UK, returning on 6 Apr 1919. On 26 Apr 1919 it was his turn to begin the journey home, returning to the UK on 6 May 1919. During the voyage home, he twice required treatment for scabies (8 - 13 Jul 1919 and 21 - 25 Jul 1919) before disembarking in Fremantle on 3 Aug 1919. Bill was discharged by the 5th Military District on 26 Aug 1919.
Post War
Notes
NOK lived in Gosnells, Bill enlisted in Kalgoorlie