AMBER, William John
| Service Number: | 3226 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hope Valley, South Australia, 17 August 1880 |
| Home Town: | Glanville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Ethelton, South Australia, 23 October 1952, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3226, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3226, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 5 Apr 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 48th Infantry Battalion |
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Son of John AMBER and Elizabeth nee POPE
Husband of Esie May AMBER
Married with 1 child
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William John Amber was born near Hope Valley, South Australia on the 17th of August 1880, he was one of 9 children of John Amber and Elizabeth Sarah Amber nee Pope. He was the father of Dorothy May Amber, and the husband of Elsie May Amber nee Datson who he lived with on Waite Street Glanville. Prior to the war William worked as a Labourer.
On the 29th of July 1915 at age of 34 years and 11 months William John Amber enlisted to join the AIF at the Keswick Barracks.
On the 27th of October 1915 Amber embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A24 Benalla arriving in Egypt for further training
In March of 1916 Amber was taken on strength to be a member of the 48th Battalion. The 48th was formed in Egypt apart of the Australian Imperial Force's reorganization. The battalion consisted of Gallipoli veterans from the 16th battalion and new recruits. William John Amber trained in Egypt until June of 1916 when the battalion journeyed to France to fight along the Western front. Amber fought in the battle of Pozieres in the Somme valley which endured what was said to be the heaviest artillery barrage ever experienced by Australian troops. In 7 weeks of fighting the AIF suffered 23,000 casualties. Amber was admitted to hospital 28th July 1916 with blistered feet and returned to duty on the 1st August. He developed scabies in Novembner 1916 and was treated in hospital in France for a couple of weeks before returning to his uni 23rd November 1916. Again in 1917 he went to hospital admitted on 27th April 1917 with Rhematism. He was sent to England for further treatment and to convalesce.
Amber spent time from July to October at No 2 and then No 3 Command Depots. After fruther training he marched in from England back to Fance 21st October 1917 and rejoined his unit in the field 2nd November 1917. He remained serving with his unit until November 1918 when he was granted two week's leave. He returned to Australia in April 1919
Amber passed away on the 23rd of October 1952 at the age of 72, in Ethelton South Australia. William is buried in Cheltenham Cemetery.
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