The AIF Project

William ATKINSON

Regimental number2552
Place of birthCarlow, Ireland
Place of birthCarlow, Queen's Co, Ireland
SchoolNational School, Bilboa, Ireland
Age on arrival in Australia21
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTram guard
Address102 Annandale Street, Annandale, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 5.75"
Weight138 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Jane Atkinson, Hill View, Bilboa, Carlow, Queen's Co, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date14 June 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name1st Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/18/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 9 August 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll53rd Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularBefore leaving for Australia he was a crack shot with a shotgun, was fond of riding horses was a fairly good photographer.
FateKilled in Action 27 April 1918
Place of death or woundingFrance
Age at death24
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialVillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Row II, Grave A, Grave 3), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
156
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Samuel and Jeanie ATKINSON, Hillview, Bilboa, Carlow, Ireland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 1st Bn, Tel-el-Kebir, 5 February 1916. Transferred to 53rd Bn, Tel-el-Kebir, 13 February 1916; taken on strength of 53rd Bn, 14 February 1916.

Admitted 3rd Field Ambulance, 14 February 1916; discharged to unit, 18 February 1916.

Admitted to 14th Field Ambulance, Tel-el-Kebir, 8 March 1916; transferred to 2nd Stationary Hospital, 10 March 1916 (otitis media); discharged to unit, 24 March 1916.

To hospital sick, 12 June 1916; admitted to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, 13 June 1916 (tonsilitis); discharged to duty, 21 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria on HMT 'Arcadian' and proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 July 1916; disembarked Southampton, 9 August 1916; marched into 14th Training Bn, Hurdcott, from hospital, 21 August 1916. Proceeded to France, 16 September 1916; marched into 5th Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 17 September 1916; moved into the field, 28 September 1916; rejoined unit from hospital, 30 September 1916.

Found guilty in the field, 11 November 1916, of being absent from tattoo roll call, 9.00 am, 10 November, to 9.30 pm, 10 November 1916: awarded 1 day's confinement to camp, 11 November 1916.

Admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance, 15 June 1917, and transferred to 5th Divisional Rest Station (herpes zester); admitted to 56th Casualty Clearing Station, 17 June 1917; to Ambulance Train, 15 July 1917; admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 16 July 1917. Embarked on HS 'Western Australia' and proceeded to England for further treatment, 20 July 1917; admitted to Military Hospital, Tooting, 22 July 1917 (severe tuberculosis); transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 28 July 1917; discharged on furlough, 10 August 1917. Marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 24 August 1917; marched into No 4 Command Depot, Codford, 4 September 1917; marched into Overseas Training Brigade, Perham Downs, 15 September 1917.

Proceeded to France through Southampton, 16 October 1917; marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Havre, 17 October 1917; moved into the field, 21 October 1917; rejoined unit from hospital, 26 October 1917.

Killed in action, 27 April 1918. Buried in isolated grave 1 mile West of Hamel, and 1.75 miles East South-East of Corbie.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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