GUTHRIE, William James
| Service Numbers: | SN 25661, 25661 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 1st Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Marulan, New South Wales, Australia, 22 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Burwood, New South Wales, Australia, 25 April 1957, aged 64 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Goulburn District Railway Employees Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, SN 25661 | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1916: | Embarked Driver, 25661, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Orsova, Sydney | |
| 29 Jul 1916: | Involvement Driver, 25661, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Mar 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, Taken on strength in Etaples | |
| 25 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Driver, 25661, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, Gassed in Belgium | |
| 22 Jun 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 25661, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, Embarked in England aboard HMAT "Leicestershire" for return to Australia. | |
| 6 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 25661, 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, Discharged medically unfit in 2nd Military District, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
William James GUTHRIE was born on 22nd February 1893 in Marulan, NSW, to parents William John and Betsy GUTHRIE.
A 22 year old, single, locomotive fireman with the NSW Government Railways at the time, William enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Sydney on 1st February 1916. He was enlisted with the rank of Driver, with the regimental number 25661, and allocated to the 4th reinforcements of the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column. The role of the Column is to transport ammunition to the field artillery guns within the Division. Following the completion of his recruit training, William embarked with his Unit in Sydney on 29th July 1916 aboard the HMAT "Orsova", for active service overseas.
On 29th March 1917, William was transferred to the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column in Etaples, France. Four months later, on 25th July, William was gassed in Belgium, resulting in him being evacuated to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station. From there, he was transferred to the 32nd Stationary Hospital in Wimereux, France, via the 31st Ambulance Train. He was then transferred aboard the Hospital Ship "St Andrew", to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, England. After 2 weeks there, he was admitted to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford, England on 31st August. Upon his discharge from hospital on 21st September 1917, William was sent to the 1st Convalescent Depot in Perham Down, England, to regain his strength.
After being medically re-classified as "A3" at Sutton Veny on 1st March 1918, just over 7 months after being gassed, William was finally discharged from the 1st Convalescent Depot. He was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge on 11th March, where he would have undergone physical fitness training, for 11 days. On 22nd March 1918, William arrived at the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery (RBAA) at Heytesbury, England. Finally, on 1st April, he proceeded back to France, rejoining his Unit on 11th April.
After only 4 months back in the field, William suffered a recurrence of an old abdominal injury, which resulted in him again being evacuated. He spent just over a week in the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne, and another week at 1st Convalescent Depot, returning to his Unit on 5th September 1918. Following the end of the War, William spent another 2 weeks in February 1919 in hospital in England with haemorrhoids. He later embarked aboard HMAT "Leicestershire" for return to Australia, on 3rd May 1919.
William was discharged medically unfit in the 2nd Military District, Sydney, on 6th August 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. His name is on both the Goulburn District Railway Employees' WW1 Honor Roll at Goulburn Railway Station, and the Rocky Hill War Memorial Tower WW1 Honour Roll.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia.
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