RICHARDS, William Arthur Leslie
| Service Number: | 894 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 December 1915, West Maitland, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Islington, New South Wales, Australia, July 1899 |
| Home Town: | Islington, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wickham Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 28 February 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 894, West Maitland, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 894, 35th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 894, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 28 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 894, 35th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 894 awm_unit: 35th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-02-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
Son of Charles and Ada Alice (nee Creighton) Richards
"Lance Corporal William Arthur Leslie Richards (894, 35th Battalion) was a clerk with the Northumberland Building Society in Newcastle, NSW, who enlisted in January 1916. Will was working as a batman and orderly for Captain Connell, who had been his teacher at school in Newcastle for several years. Captain Connell nicknamed Will “Gunner” and looked on Will as a younger brother. About 11 pm on 28 February 1917, a shell exploded in the company headquarters dugout in the trenches at Houplines, badly wounding Will in the lower body and legs. He died within minutes in the captain’s arms. Will was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. He was 16 years 7 months of age (*at time of enlistment)" - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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