The AIF Project

William Alexander FARRANT

Regimental number2169
Place of birthPort Adelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressJunction Road, Rosewater, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation41
Height5' 5.5"
Weight131 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Annie Farrant, Junction Road, Rosewater, South Australia
Previous military serviceRosewater Rifle Club
Enlistment date26 August 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll23 August 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades on 7 February 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 9 February 1919
Discharge date12 May 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 7 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 11 March 1916.

Proceeded to join 32nd Bn from 8th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 1 April 1916; taken on strength of 32nd Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 1 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, 20 July 1916; transferred to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, 20 July 1916 (gunshot wound, chest); to No 1 Hospital Train, 21 July 1916; to No 9 British Red Cross Hospital, Calais, 21 July 1916; to England, 2 August 1916; to War Hospital, Leeds, 3 August 1916; discharged to No 1 Command Depot, 30 September 1916; taken on strength of No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 2 October 1916.

To furlough, 3 October 1916; marched into No 3 Command Depot from furlough, Perham Downs, 13 October 1916.

Marched out to No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, 3 November 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 24 January 1917; marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 25 January 1917.

Admitted to No 20 General Hospital, Camiers, 26 January 1917 (scabies); transferred to No 26 General Hospital, Etaples, 15 February 1917 (scabies and boils); to No 25 General Hospital, 20 February 1917 (boils); to No 7 Convalescent Depot, Hardelot, 15 March 1917; to No 3 LRS, 21 March 1917; marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 24 March 1917.

Admitted to No 24 General Hospital, Etaples, 29 March 1917 (pterygium, R & L); marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 15 April 1917.

Marched out to unit, 19 April 1917; rejoined 32nd Bn, in the field, 21 April 1917.

To 2nd Army Summer Rest Camp, 27 August 1917; rejoined unit, 7 September 1917.

Detached to Perth Military Cemetery, Zillebeke, 24 September 1917; rejoined unit, 28 September 1917.

Admitted to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 3 February 1918 (ulcer, right heel).

Admitted to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 15 February 1918 (trench foot).

Marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, ex-hospital, 25 December 1918.

Found guilty, 30 December 1918, of being absent without leave while on active service from 2130 hours, 28 December 1918, until 1930 hours, 30 December 1918: award, forfeits 10 days' pay and a total forfeiture of 12 days' pay.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 13 January 1919 (Class B3); marched into No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 14 January 1919.

Undated note from 32nd Bn on B.103, 'illegal absence cancelled'.

Commenced return to Australia on board 'Ascanius', 9 February 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 28 March 1919; discharged Adelaide, 12 May 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 260 days (of which 3 years 50 days were abroad).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death14 March 1936 Death not attributed to war service.
SourcesNAA: B2455, FARRANT William Alexander

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