WILLIAMSON, Arthur Joseph
| Service Number: | 2264 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 May 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Orroroo, South Australia , 15 February 1891 |
| Home Town: | Orroroo, Orroroo/Carrieton, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Peak Vale School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Torrensville, 16 March 1962, aged 71 years |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia RSL, Section B, Site 1 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 9 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2264, 48th Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2264, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2264, 48th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 6 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2264, 48th Infantry Battalion, Wounded on the front line while fighting on the western front | |
| 24 Jan 1919: | Honoured Military Medal, The Battle of Amiens, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations 8th/9th August 1918. During the advance on PROYART Pte. WILLIAMSON showed great initiative and bravery in the handling of his Lewis Gun under heavy machine gun fire from enemy strong post. Pte. WILLIAMSON rushed out with his N.C.O. continually in front of his platoon to advance and finally reach his objective. When the objective was reached Pte. WILLIAMSON immediately engaged all targets that presented themselves in front of our line, and assisted greatly in covering the consolidation. | |
| 2 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2264, 48th Infantry Battalion, Arthur Williamson returned to Australia on the 2nd August 1919 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by AJay White
Arthur Joseph Williamson was born on the 15th of February, 1891, in Orroroo, South Australia. His parents were Alice Jane and Frank Williamson. Arthur was one of thirteen siblings. Arthur was 5’7 feet tall and his religious denomination was the Church of England.
Before Arthur enlisted in the war, his occupation was labourer in Orroroo. He enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for World War One on the 9th of May, 1916 (service number 2264) at the age twenty-four and embarked on the Ballarat A70 on the 12th of August, 1916 from Adelaide.
Arthur set sail from Adelaide. He travelled across the Indian Ocean, through the Gulf of Aden and then through the Suez Canal. He then went to France to fight on the western front for two years. For twenty-three months, Arthur didn’t sustain any injuries on the front line.
However, in 1918 Arthur was involved in the Third Battle of Albert on the 6th of April. On this exact date, Arthur received shrapnel wounds to his left foot while in action and was hospitalised for four days. After his recovery he returned straight to the front line. Arthur fought in Albert for a few months until the 48th Battalion started an advance on Proyart in France, which was a success for ANZACS. On the 8th of August, they began the advance, Arthur was involved in this mission, he provided covering fire for the ANZAC men passing through the empty river so they could get to Proyart and take control of the village.
Arthur survived this advancement and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery. After he was awarded this medal, there was no record of Arthur until he returned to Melbourne on the Ballarat Ship.
After the war he returned to Orroroo to meet his family. He later married his wife Masorie Victoria Harriet Hocking on the 3rd of December, 1920 at Hindmarsh, South Australia. He had three children, Kelly Joyce, Jessie Catherine and Artie. Masorie died on the 28th of October, 1949. In 1950 Arthur moved to Torrensville, South Australia at age sixty-eight. He died at age seventy-one on March 14, 1962. He was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, section B.