William Tasman BAIRD

Regimental number5783
Place of birthPyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address200 Evans Street, Rozelle, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 4.75"
Weight138 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Ester Baird, 9 Sutton Street, Balmain, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected on account of eyesight)
Enlistment date27 June 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll27 June 1916
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name18th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/35/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll18th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularEnlisted 27 June 1916. Joined 18th Bn, 27 January 1917. Wounded at Bullecourt, 3 May 1917.
FateKilled in Action 31 August 1918
Place of death or woundingMont St Quentin, France
Date of death31 August 1918
Place of burialHem Farm Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row H, Grave No. 22), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
84
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked from Sydney, 7 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 21 November 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 13 December 1916.

Found guilty, 4 January 1917, of disobeying an order in that he was found in a cafe at an unauthorised hour, 31 December 1916: awarded forfeiture of 2 days' pay.

Found guilty of being absent without leave, 9-10 April 1917: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 9 days' pay. Found guilty of being absent without leave, 9 am-9 pm, 16 August 1917: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No. 2. Found guilty, 8 April 1918, of being absent without leave, 2-6 April 1918: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No. 2.

Killed in action, 31 August 1918.

Mother wrote to Base Records, 25 September 1918: 'I am writing to you to know if you would favour me with information on my son's death. And how he was killed as I am not friends with his wife and had to be told by strangers that my son is dead, and being his Mother I think it very hard not to be notified.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BAIRD William Tasman