| Regimental number | 3100 |
| Place of birth | Collingwood, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of Christ |
| Occupation | Carpenter |
| Address | 35 Liverpool Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 7.75" |
| Weight | 133 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs M Hardy, 35 Liverpool Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served in the Senior Cadets. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 7th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/24/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT RMS Osterley on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 22), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 170 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 7th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916. Transferred to 59th Bn, 24 February 1916. Transferred to and taken on strength 0f 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 15 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Statement, 3048 Pte E.J. HANKS, D Company, 60th Bn: 'I last saw Pvte W. Oriel of "D" Company, 60th Batt., in the front line trenches in the town of Fleurbaix, at 3.10 p.m. on the nineteenth day of July 1916.' Note, Red Cross File No 2060412: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.' Statement, 3409 Pte F. MAHONEY, D Company, 60th Bn (patient, No 8 General Hospital, Rouen), 6 February 1917: 'Informant knew Oriel's initials and said L/Cpl. Haverfield of A Coy. told him when in Hospital, that he saw Oriel killed on this date just after getting over the parapet in the Fromelles attack.' |
| Miscellaneous details | Name entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as William Benison ORILL |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ORIEL William Harrison
Red Cross File No 2060412 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
