VIAL, William John
| Service Number: | 193 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Fullarton, South Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Hove, Holdfast Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 15 April 1963 |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Kadina & District WW1 Roll of Honor, Kadina Town Hall WW1 & WW2 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 193, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 193, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 193, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 193, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Part of 'A' Coy, he was wounded in action by a Minenwerfer near Ploegsteert Wood. The shrapnel caused wounds in his right arm, right foot, lower left leg and buttocks. He was returned to England on 13May and his right leg was amputated just below the knee. The damage to his left leg was also so severe that his ankle had to be fused. | |
| 25 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 193, 43rd Infantry Battalion, GSW (multiple) | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Return to Australia on HMAT A38 Ulysses. He was posted to 4MD (Adelaide) for a long period of rehabilitation. | |
| 6 May 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 193, 43rd Infantry Battalion, 4MD (Adelaide) |
Help us honour William John Vial's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Gary Vial
Whilst convalescing in hospital in Adelaide, he met his furure wife, Jessie May Cope. She was one of many volunteers who regularly visited the wounded returned soldiers. They married and had 3 children; Clyde, Allan & Dahlis. Willam, generally known as Bill, retrained as an upholsterer, and opened his own business with partner Mr Dawes at Stepney. It was a very well known and highly regarded company that was still trading in 1982, 20 years after his death. Despite his disabilities, his skills were profound. Carpenter, cabinet-maker, mechanic, blacksmith, concreter, gardener. He could turn his hand to anything. And even in his late 60's was still a 'dead-eye' with a rifle.
Click images to start slideshow.