Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Henry FIELD was born in 1874 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England.   His parents came from Yorkshire and returned there when William Henry was an infant.   He grew up in Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, where he was later employed as a Corn Merchant's Clerk.   He married Bertha HARTLEY, and they had one son, Herbert Booker FIELD.    The family lived in Belle Vue, Sandal, and later moved to the village of Heath, near Wakefield.   In 1911 the Field family migrated to Australia, arriving in December.

William Henry FIELD was employed as a Book Keeper with the Victorian Railways, and the family made their home in Bendigo.   Known as "Will", he was a member of the All Saints' Pro-Cathedral Choir.   For some time he was stationed in Mooroopna with the Railways, but considered Bendigo to be his home.   His son, Herbert Booker FIELD, was an offier in Senior Cadets, area 67B, Bendigo, and gained his first employment with the Bendigo Advertiser.

On 17th April, 1917, aged 42 years & 11 months, William Henry FIELD Enlisted for Service and became a Private in the Army Medical Corps.   He Attested on 27th April and was allotted Service No. 18440.   At his Medical examination he was described as being 5'9" in height, weighed 121 lbs, and had a chest measurement of 32-34".   His complexion was described as 'fresh', and he had hazel eyes and grey hair.   (Soon after, on the day before his 18th birthday in June, 1917, Herbert Booker FIELD followed his father and enlisted for Service.)

Will was posted to the Clearing Hospital at Broadmeadows, and then transferred to No. 11 Australian General Hospital, AMC Bendigo, and Clearing Hospital, Seymour.   He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Nestor on 21st November, 1917.   His son, Herbert Booker FIELD, was also on board, so father and son travelled over together although with different units.

In England his medical training continued at the Australian Army Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse, located on Salisbury Plain.   Then he was sent to the Australian General Base Depot at Le Havre, France, where the emphasis was on 'hardening' the men and improving fitness.

He was appointed to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, 2 1/2 miles outside Boulogne.   He arrived at Wimereux in August, 1918, in time for the opening of the British offensive on the Somme.   This offensive resulted in a large flow of wounded, with casualties arriving in Wimereux by ambulance train.   Hospital work was re-distributed, with No 2 AGH only admitting stretcher cases.

Will remained at No 2 AGH following the Armistice.   Battle casualties had ceased, but the sickness rate was high, chiefly from pneumonic influenza.

The hospital closed to patients in February, 1919, and in March Will was granted Furlo to the U.K.   When his Furlo ended he was attached for duty at AIF Headquarters Medical, London.   He attended the Farewell March of the Australian Troops in London on 25th April 1919, and was also present for the Victory March and Peace Day celebrations on 20th July, 1919.  On July 27th he attended the Memorial Service for Those Who Had Fallen  in the Great War, in Hyde Park. 

On 12th March, 1920, William Henry FIELD embarked on "Ceramic" for return to Australia.   He was discharged from the AIF on 14th June, 1920.

William Henry FIELD resumed his position with the Victorian Railways.   He and his wife lived in Golden Square, later moving to Quarry Hill.   He Died on 28th September, 1940, and was Buried in the Bendigo Cemetery.