HOUSE, William Hugh
| Service Number: | 6522 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 May 1916, Enlisted at Holsworthy, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ryde, Isle of Wight, England, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Employee |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 5 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 12 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6522, 1st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Holsworthy, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6522, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6522, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
Help us honour William Hugh House's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Rachel House of Swanmore Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Husband of Effie Josephine House nee Smith of Riley Street, Sydney, NSW later of 'Katoomba', Little Dowling Street, Paddington, NSW. William and Effie married during 1916c in Woollahra, NSW
His actual trade was boiler maker. Had previously enlisted during 1915 but deserted.
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by John Oakes
William Hugh HOUSE (Service Number 6522) was born in Ryde, Isle of Wight, in 1886. He was employed by the NSW Government Railways as a labourer.
In October 1915 he enlisted in the AIF at Holdsworthy. He stated that he had purchased his discharge after serving almost four years in the ‘King’s Royal Rifles’. He was a single man. His trade was boilermaker. He served at the army depot at Liverpool from 22nd October 1915 until 7th January 1916, when he deserted. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
In May 1916, however, he enlisted again. He gave his correct name, but now stated that he was a married man, and a railway labourer, living at Hurstville. His marriage to Effie Josephine Smith was registered in 1916 at Woollahra. Sshe was named in these fresh enlistment papers as his wife and next of kin. He did not mention his earlier military service, and the authorities did not make the connection with the "deserter" at that time.
He embarked from Sydney in October 1916. He landed in England in November. In December he was deprived of a day’s pay when found absent from parade despite being warned to attend. In January 1917 he was sent to France and ‘taken on strength’ by the 1st Battalion. In March he was punished (10 days ‘Field Punishment No. 2’) when found guilty of ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he ate his iron rations without permission of officer’.
Between 5th and 8th March 1917 he was killed in action and buried ‘in the vicinity of Broodseinde’. He has no known grave but is remembered with honour on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
A war pension was granted to his widow, and she received his service medals and memorials.
The warrant for his arrest as a deserter in 1916 was withdrawn in 1919 when the authorities caught up with the paperwork!
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.