GREENWAY, William (aka John SMITH)
| Service Number: | 5443 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1915, Bendigo |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Marong, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Koondrook, Gannawarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wood carter |
| Died: | Influenza, Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 30 June 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Barford St. Martin Church Cemetery Barford St Martin Church Cemetery, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5443, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Bendigo | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5443, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5443, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 24 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5443, 54th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Gassed Died of illness - Influenza |
Help us honour William (aka John SMITH) Greenway's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
William GREENWAY was born in Marong, Bendigo, Victoria in 1894
He served under the name of John SMITH
His parents were Ernest Walter GREENWAY & Cath. PROUD
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 30th June.... William James Greenway was born at Marong, near Bendigo, Victoria in 1894. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th July, 1915 as a 21 year old, single, Woodcarter & was attached to “D” Coy, 8th Dep. Batt. at Flemington from 30th August, 1915 until 16th September, 1915 when he was transferred to 11/8A Reinforcements. His Statement of Service form was marked AWL (Absent without leave) “Did not embark”.
[From information contained in a letter, dated 20th September, 1918, by Mr Ernest Greenway, father of Private William Greenway, to the Secretary for Defence – it appears that William Greenway enlisted in the A.I.F. with his father’s permission as he was under age. While he was in Camp at Broadmeadows, some trouble occurred & Private William Greenway deserted.]
William Greenway stated he was a 21 year old, single, Labourer from Post Office, Mulwalla, NSW when he enlisted at Cootamundra, NSW on 15th December, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.), under the name of “John Smith”.
Private “John Smith” embarked from Sydney on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 14th April, 1916 with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 17th Reinforcements & disembarked at Suez on 16th May, 1916. He was transferred to Reinforcements of 54th Battalion on 24th May, 1916.
Private “Smith” joined 54th Battalion in France on 26th September, 1916.
Private “Smith” was hospitalised on 17th March, 1917 with Boils then transferred to Convalescent Depot on 7th April, 1917. He was transferred to Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on 13th April, 1917.
Private “Smith” was admitted to Hospital at Etaples on 20th April, 1917 & discharged on 23rd April, 1917 to Convalescent Depot. He rejoined his Unit on 17th May, 1917.
Private “Smith” was written up for a Crime - A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from 6 am on 20th June, 1917 until apprehended in afternoon of 20th June, 1917. He was awarded 14 days C.B. (Confined to Barracks) & forfeited 1 days’ pay.
Private “Smith” proceeded to England on leave from 31st August, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from leave on 14th September, 1917.
Private “Smith” proceeded to England on leave from 3rd March, 1918 & rejoined his Unit in the Field on 22nd March, 1918.
Private “John Smith” was wounded in action – Gassed in France on 17th April, 1918. He was admitted to Casualty Clearing Station then transferred & admitted to Hospital at Rouen on 20th April, 1918. Private “Smith” was transferred to England on Hospital Ship on 24th April, 1918 & was admitted to The War Hospital, Stratford on Avon on 25th April, 1918 with “Shell Gas” – severe. He was transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on 15th May, 1918.
Communications addressed to the next-of-kin – Mr J. Smith of Mildura to advise of Private Smith’s condition were returned unclaimed in May & June, 1918.
Private “Smith” was discharged to furlough from 5 – 19th June, 1918 & was posted to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 19th June, 1918. He was admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant on 28th June, 1918 suffering from Influenza.
Private “John Smith” died at 10.30 am on 30th June, 1918 at Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire from Influenza. He was buried in Barford St. Martin Church Cemetery, Wiltshire, England where 3 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are buried.
It appears that the Australian Imperial Force had no knowledge that Private John Smith was an assumed name until they received a letter from Mr Ernest Greenway, father of William Greenway, dated 20th September, 1918 advising them of the situation & his belief that Private John Smith was his son William Greenway.
A Statutory Declaration was signed by Ernest Walter Greenway on 12th July, 1919 stating that No. 5443 Private J. Smith, 54th Battalion, enlisted under an assumed name, his correct name being Greenway and that he was the late soldier’s father. Mr Greenway was advised that the records would be amended & Mr Greenway recorded as next-of-kin. The Personal effects of Private “John Smith” were sent to his father – Mr E. W. Greenway at Koondrook, Victoria.
The CWGC Headstone still recorded his name as “Private J. Smith”
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/barford.html
Click images to start slideshow.