William Henry MILLIGAN

MILLIGAN, William Henry

Service Number: 4547
Enlisted: 10 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 60th Infantry Battalion
Born: St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, 1883
Home Town: Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Boilermaker
Died: Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial
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World War 1 Service

10 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4547, Depot Battalion
28 Jan 1916: Involvement Private, 4547, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: ''
28 Jan 1916: Embarked Private, 4547, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne
19 Jul 1916: Involvement Private, 4547, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4547 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19
Date unknown: Involvement 60th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

William Henry Milligan enlisted at the age of 35, married to Mabel Ann and the father of Fred, age 12. He landed in Egypt in February 1916 and in France on the 29 June 1916. He was killed in action at Fromelles only three weeks later, the only witness to his demise stating that he had seen Milligan’s body laying out in No Man’s Land, ‘about 30 yards in front of the German front trenches Fleurbaix.’ Mabel Annie Milligan and her son were both awarded a pension.

His younger brother, 5376 Pte Joseph Lewelleyn Milligan, 21st Battalion AIF, was killed in action, 23 February 1917, aged 19. Another brother of similar age, 1736 Pte. Francis Frank Augustus Milligan 55th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium, 26 September 1917, aged 35. A third brother also served 6015 Sapper John Milligan 1st Tunnelling Company, and returned to Australia in 1918.

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