6794
DAHL, William Martin
| Service Number: | 56 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, November 1888 |
| Home Town: | Hindmarsh, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 26 November 1966, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia Catholic Section |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 56, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 56, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 56, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 56, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Warneton, Wounded by gunshot |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Life before war
William Martin Dahl was born in 1888 and was 27 years and 1 month of age when he enlisted in the war. He was born in Warrnambool located on the south western coast of Victoria but moved to Richard Street in Hindmarsh, in Adelaide, with his wife Mrs Alice Margaret Dahl later on before he enlisted. William was a Roman Catholic, and his job was a labourer. William’s complexion was described as fresh which could be interpreted as healthy and clean looking skin. He was said to have light coloured skin as well as him having hazel eyes and dark coloured hair. His height was 5 foot 7 and a half. His enlistment in World War One was his first ever service in the military.
Life in service
William Martin Dahl enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a Private on the 31st of December 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia. His regimental number was 56 and was appointed to the 43rd battalion. Williams first went to war overseas to England on board of the HMAT A19 Afric and was then hospitalised with an infection. After recovering from his disease, he was discharged from the Beaufort war hospital on 30th of January 1917, and went back into service first by traveling overseas to France on board of the HMAT A19 Afric on the February 17th, 1917. He then marched out to unit on the 24th of March 1917 arriving on the 30th February 1917 and re-joined the 43rd battalion in the field. Then on 29th of June 1917 William went to hospital sick on the battlefield admitted with bronchitis an infection in the lungs. Then re-joining the 43rd battalion on the 6th of July 1917.
On 31st July 1917 he was wounded in action with a gunshot to the back, at Warneton, and then re-joined the 43rd battalion on the 10th of August 1917 Then back to hospital again containing the disease fever of unknown origin or also known as high temperature. He then Re-joined the 43rd battalion still containing a fever on the 13th of November 1917, then went back to Boulangerie in France on the 21st of November 1917. He then came to England with the 43rd battalion on the 16th April 1918 and being admitted Boulangerie in France for having myalgia (soreness and achiness in the muscles) Then traveling overseas and on the 14th of May 1918 arriving in France again, and rejoined his unit the 43rd Battalion on 20th May. Later on, being admitted into hospital for having diarrhoea as well as becoming sick with other illness for this he was transported to UK hospital In England to be cured on the 24th of September 1918. This unfortunately did not work out causing him to return to Australia as he was not fit enough to fight with all the diseases he was catching as when he arrived in Australia, he also caught Rheumatism an illness which makes your joints have chronic pain.
Life after service
William Martin Dahl Returned to Australia upon the ship “Bakara” 22nd December 1918 after being too weak with illness to continue being in service. He then proceeded to return to Adelaide and was officially discharged. He then went on to live with his wife Mrs Margret Dahl. The age and cause of Williams death is uncertain.