PRIOR, William Henry
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Burrowa, NSW, 19 September 1888 |
| Home Town: | Artarmon, Willoughby, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fort Street High School Sydney |
| Occupation: | Bank Official |
| Died: | Ill Health, Roseville, Sydney, NSW, 10 March 1937, aged 48 years |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW |
| Memorials: | Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
WILLIAM HENRY PRIOR was born on 19th September, 1888, at Burrowa, and is a brother of Robert Eric Prior, He was educated at the Fort Street High School, Sydney, and entered the Bank’s service at the Head Office on 13th December, 1906.
He enlisted in the A.I.F. in April, 1915; was promoted second-lieutenant in August, and left Australia in September, 1915, in charge of the 9th Reinforcements to 3rd Battalion. On arrival in Egypt he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, served on the Suez Canal, and accompanied them to France in March, 1916. Promoted lieutenant, in April, he acted as Scouting and Intelligence Officer until July, when he was seriously wounded whilst raiding an enemy position near Fleurbaix. He was mentioned in despatches for conspicuous gallantry during the raid.
Being incapacitated for further service in the field, W. H. Prior was placed on the administrative staff at A.I.F. headquarters, London, in January, 1917, where he acted as D.A.Q.M.G. He reorganised “Q” Departments’ Systems, and instituted a War Loan Savings Scheme, by which the female civilian staff contributed over £7,000 to National funds. Later he was appointed administrative controller of all A.I.F. civilian staff, totalling at Armistice 3,300, and drafted the regulations and benefits under which they were finally demobilised.
On 1st January, 1920, he was appointed staff inspector, and promoted captain. A year later he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) “for conspicuous and valuable services during the war."
Source - Bank of NSW Roll of Honour
Mr. William Henry Prior, formerly inspector of staff at the head office of the Bank of New South Wales, died at his residence at Roseville yesterday. He retired about four years ago owing to ill-health.
Mr. Prior, who was a brother of the Chief Industrial Magistrate (Mr. E. A. Prior), enlisted in the A.I F in 1915. He was promoted on the field to the rank of lieutenant and mentioned in despatches. In July, 1916, he was seriously wounded near Fleurbaix. Throughout the remainder of the war he served at the A.I.F. headquarters, London.
He was made a member of the Order of the British Empire. On his return to Australia he took up industrial work for the associated banks.
Mr. Prior is survived by a widow and two children. The funeral will leave the Church of England, Roseville, at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon for the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.
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