ORCHARD, William Augustus
| Service Number: | 727 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Westbury, Tasmania, Australia, 18 April 1870 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England, United Kingdom, 11 April 1918, aged 47 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row E, Grave 17 Epitaph reads "A Good Son And A Good Brother" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 727, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 727, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart | |
| 11 Apr 1918: | Involvement Private, 727, 10th Machine Gun Company, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 727 awm_unit: 10th Australian Machine Gun Company awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-04-11 |
Help us honour William Augustus Orchard's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 11th April…… Private William Augustus Orchard was born at Westbury, Tasmania on 18th April, 1870.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th March, 1916 as a 43 year old, single, Farm Labourer from Launceston, Tasmania.
Private William Augustus Orchard embarked from Hobart, Tasmania on HMAT Berrima (A35) on 1st July, 1916 with the 10th Infantry Brigade, 40th Infantry Battalion “C” Company & disembarked at Devonport, England on 22nd August, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 23rd August, 1916 Private Orchard was posted to Larkhill, Wiltshire, England. He proceeded overseas to France on 23rd November, 1916 & was attached for duty with 10th Machine Gun Company at Rouen, France from 40th Battalion on 9th December, 1916.
He reported sick on 4th April, 1917 & was admitted to 10th Australian Field Ambulance with Septic Sores on his Leg then was transferred on 5th April, 1917 to D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station). Private Orchard was admitted to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 6th May, 1917 with septic sores to right leg. He was transferred to 12th Casualty Clearing Station on 8th May, 1917 with boils on left leg. Private Orchard was discharged to duty on 17th May, 1917 & rejoined 10th Machine Gun Company on 18th May, 1917.
Private Orchard was admitted to 4th Field Ambulance on 4th August, 1917- P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin) then transferred to 9th Field Ambulance on 7th August, 1917. He was transferred to Casualty Clearing Station on 7th August, 1917 then discharged to D.R.C. (Discharge and Reception Centre) on 15th August, 1917. Private Orchard rejoined his Unit – 10th Machine Gun Company on 17th August, 1917.
He was transferred to 10th Machine Gun Company on 30th August, 1917 from 40th Battalion (as opposed to being detached) & was taken on strength the same day.
Private William Augustus Orchard was wounded in action on 4th October, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 5th October, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Chest. Private Orchard was transferred to Casualty Clearing Station then on 13th October, 1917 he was admitted to 14th General Hospital. He embarked for England on Hospital Ship St Denis on 14th October, 1917.
He was admitted to The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England on 14th October, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Spine – v 1 – 3 & Paraplegia. He was reported to be dangerously ill. An X-Ray was taken on 17th October, 1917 – G.S.W. chest & back.
The Hospital Admissions form recorded:
4 Oct 17 Wounded France
15 Oct 17 On admission Legs, loss of motor power. Chest weak, breath sounds over left apex, Rhonchi present.
18 Oct 17 Xray Fract. L. Clavicle. Suprapubic performed.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Orchard on 2nd November, 1917 at The King George Hospital. His disability was listed as “G.S.W. Spine. Paraplegia” “Patient states that he was wounded in France on Oct. 4th, 1917. He was hit over the outer end of the left clavicle by what he thinks was a sniper’s bullet. He immediately fell down and became “doubled up like a ball” and felt numbed all over. About 20 minutes later he regained the feeling in his arms, neck and face; but none from level of nipples downwards. He has no control or knowledge of micturition and defecation. He states that he coughed up a good deal of blood during the 24 hours following the wound. On admission to this Hospital 14/10/17 Legs- Flaccid paraplegia, Haemorrhagic cystitis. 18/10/17 Suprapubic cystotomy performed by Mr Thomas Walker under a local anaesthetic.” The Officer in charge of the medical case recommended that Private William Augustus Orchard be discharged as permanently unfit as his disability was 100%. The Medical Board also agreed that he be discharged as permanently unfit & would need further Hospital treatment.
Private William Augustus Orchard died at 9.30 am on 11th April, 1918 at The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England from Wounds received in Action – G.S.W. to Spine – paraplegia.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 364 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/mor---p.html
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