The AIF Project

Herbert John BILLSON

Regimental number14632
Place of birthBurnley, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Address16 Metropolitan Street, Richmond, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 6.5"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs L M Billson, 26 Highbury Grove, East Prahran, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date10 January 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameHowitzer Brigade 23, Reinforcement 2
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/133/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 4 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Machine Gun Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 15 January 1919
Discharge date9 April 1919
Other details

Enlisted, 14 June 1915. Discharged at own request (illness of wife), 5 November 1915.

Re-enlisted, 10 January 1916.

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, Tel el Kebir, 1 July 1916; readmitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 4 July 1916 (new disease supervening: no further details recorded); discharged same day.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force,1 August 1916; disembarked England (date not recorded).

Proceeded overseas to France, 20 November 1916; marched in to Machine Gun Corps Base Depot, Camiers, 20 November 1916. Marched out to and proceeded to join 10th Machine Gun Company, 9 January 1917; taken on strength, 10th Machine Gun Company, in the field, 10 January 1917.

On leave to England, 1 November 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 16 November 1917.

Admitted to 10th Field Ambulance, 28 July 1918 (left leg: synovitis), and transferred same day to 5th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, 31 July 1918; to Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 7 August 1918; rejoined 3rd Machine Gun Bn, in the field, 15 August 1918.

Admitted to 9th Field Ambulance, 27 August 1918 (knee: synovitis); transferred to 12th General Hospital, Rouen, 28 August 1918; to England, 30 August 1918, and admitted to Bath War Hospital, 31 August 1918. Discharged on furlough, 17 September 1918, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 1 October 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board ‘City of Exeter’, 15 January 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 2 March 1919; discharged, Melbourne, 9 April 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

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