HESTER, William
| Service Number: | 3243 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sittingbourne England , 1893 |
| Home Town: | Rozelle, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, France, 22 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3243, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3243, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
| 31 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 55th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 3243, 55th Infantry Battalion, Received gunshot wound to the arm in France. Died two days later at No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. |
Help us honour William Hester's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Incorrect transcription of Family Name recorded on the Embarkation Roll (HEATER) has been corrected to accord with the Family Name attested in the Official Service Record (HESTER). Correction undertaken by the RSL Virtual War memorial Chiref Moderator, January 2017.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
William HESTER (Service Number 3243) was born in 1893 in Kent, England. He started,work as a Tram Conductor in Sydney on 4th September 1914. He remained in this position until 9th September 1915, when he was granted leave to join the AIF. He was 21 at the time.
He proceeded to join the 55th Battalion from Zeitoun (Egypt) on 16th February 1916 and was taken on strength at Tel-el-Kebir on the same day. Later in 1916, on 31st May, he was promoted to Corporal. On 19th June 1916, he embarked to join the British Expeditionary Forces from Alexandria. He disembarked at Marseilles (France) on 29th June.
He was wwounded in action on 20th July 1916 in France. He received a gunshot wound to the arm, and two days later, these wounds killed him. He died at the No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearly Station, France. He was buried on 25th July 1916 in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
His father, his next of kin, received many personal items following his death, such as letters, photos, and a watch. He also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal on behalf of his son’s service.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Click images to start slideshow.