William Leslie Roberts
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Sep 1901 |
| Place of Birth | Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England |
| Death | 28 Jul 1971 |
| Place of Death | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 40 years, 7 months |
| Description | 5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair ; scar on forehead |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | 'Rosevale' Croyden road, Roleystone, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. William Percy Roberts |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W62246 |
| Date of Enlistment | 22 Apr 1942 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 17th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained Australia |
| Monument(s) | Roleystone Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries: 1925 at Dalwallinu, farm hand; 1931 at Pinjarra, farm hand; 1936 Coolgardie, prospector; 1937 Rendering, labourer; 1943 Croydon road, Roleystone, horticulturalist.
War Service
Bill enlisted in the Full time CMF at Armadale on 22 Apr 1942. On 1 Jul 1942 he was sent to Northam for basic training, and 10 days later on 11 Jul 1942 he was admitted to the 38th Australian Camp Hospital, remaining with them until 30 Sep 1942. A some point he undertook more specialised training with the 2nd RAE Training Centre as he left them to join the 8th Australian Field Company on 6 May 1943.
On 21 Sep 1943 Bill boarded HMT Nieuw Amsterdam in Fremantle for Melbourne, arriving there in the early hours of 27 Sep 1943 before boarding a train for Sydney with his unit. In NSW on 8 Nov 1943 he was seen by a Medical Board which declared him to be category 'B'. On 24 Nov 1943 he entrained in Sydney for Brisbane where on 3 Jan 1944 he was posted to the 17th Australian Ordnance Stores Company at Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands. On 1 Aug 1944 he was reclassified as 'B2' and on 28 Aug 1944 he was transferred to the 13th Australian Advanced Ordnance Depot also at Tolga and with whom he remained until 17 Oct 1945 when he was sent back to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Discharge section at Karrakatta. Bill was discharged on 12 Nov 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at 137 Croydon road, Roleystone, market gardener; 1968 at 98 Brookton highway, Roleystone, market gardener
Notes