The AIF Project

William James BYRNE

Regimental number940
Place of birthTipperary, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationEngine driver
AddressJames Street, Ravenswood, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height6' 1.75"
Next of kinSister, Miss N Byrne, James Street, Ravenswood, Queensland
Previous military serviceServed in the 56th Southern, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Enlistment date20 August 1914
Place of enlistmentTownsville, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Battalion, H Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/26/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board Transport A5 Omrah on 24 September 1914
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 29 August 1915
Discharge date13 December 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked for Active Service, 24 September 1914.

Wounded (gun shot wound, shoulder, leg), Gallipoli Peninsula, 25 April 1915; to 1st Australian General Hospital, 8 May 1915; transferred to Convalescent Depot, Zeitoun, Egypt, 9 June 1915; to 2nd General Hospital, Genjira, 15 July 1915; to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, 4 August 1915; transferred to 'Euripides' for Australia, 27 July 1915; embarked, Suez, for Australia on board HT 'Euripides', 29 August 1915; disembarked, Australia, 1 October 1915; discharged (medically unfit), Brisbane, 10 December 1915.

Re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 18 April 1916; embarked, Sydney, 5 June 1916, as 1221 Sergeant, 42nd Bn, 'B' Company, on board HMAT 'Borda'; disembarked, Southampton, 23 July 1916; proceeded overseas to France, 23 November 1916; promoted to Company Sergeant Major, 23 December 1916; promoted to Lieutenant, 17 January 1917.

Admitted to 10th Australian Field Ambulance (mumps), 26 January 1917; to Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 26 January 1917; to 28th Ambulance Train, 1 February 1917; to 14th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 2 February 1917; to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, 16 February 1917; granted 14 days' sick leave to England, 17 February 1917; marched into 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, France, 7 March 1917.

Admitted to 24th General Hospital (sick), 18 March 1917; discharged to duty, 30 March 1917.

Admitted to 24th General Hospital (slight neurasthenia), Etaples, 19 April 1917; to England, 22 April 1917; admitted to 4th London General Hospital, 22 April 1917; discharged to Perham Downs Command Depot, 31 May 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Borda', 26 September 1917; disembarked Melbourne for on ward travel to Brisbane, 21 November 1917; discharged, Brisbane, 13 December 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BYRNE William James

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