William Francis SKINNER

William Francis SKINNER Update Details

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SKINNER, William Francis

Service Number:	2795
Enlisted:	19 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank:	Sergeant
Last Unit:	59th Infantry Battalion
Born:	South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, 1898
Home Town:	Trafalgar, Baw Baw, Victoria
Schooling:	State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 31 August 1918
Cemetery:	Assevillers New British Cemetery Plot XI, Row D, Grave 7
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Trafalgar War Memorial, Yarragon War Memorial

World War 1 Service

19 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2795, Melbourne, Victoria
27 Oct 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2795, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
27 Oct 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2795, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne
23 Apr 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion
17 Feb 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 59th Infantry Battalion
24 Mar 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2795, 59th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, GSW (right buttock)
21 Jul 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 59th Infantry Battalion
17 Apr 1918:	Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 59th Infantry Battalion
31 Aug 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2795, 59th Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

William Francis SKINNER was born in South Yarra, Victoria in 1898

His parents were William Francis SKINNER and Jessie Maud PEARSON

He had previous service in the Senior Cadets before he enlisted in Melbourne on 19th July, 1915 with the 22nd Battalion - he embarked with the 6th reinforcements on 27th October 1915 on HMAT Ulysses

William was wounded several times in action and was finally Killed in Action on 31st August, 1918 near Peronne, France when he ran out into the open & was shot through the lung

He was first buried near a German POW cage on the side of Barleux Road between two French soldiers graves - his colleagues erected a cross on his temporary grave - he was later reburied at Assevillers New British Cemetery - he is memorialised at the Australian War Memorial

William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Three of his Uncles who also served were all Killed in Action - they were Private George Charles PEARSON (SN1114) 31st Battalion, died 12th July, 1916 at Fleurbaix, France, Private John Leslie PEARSON (SN345) 3rd Machine Gun Coy, died 21st June 1916 in France and Private Robert Fernley PEARSON (SN3900) 6th Battalion, died 21st June 1915 Pozieres, France

After Williams death in 1918 his parents had another son born on 19th May 1920 in Trafalgar, Victoria and also called him William Francis SKINNER after his deceased brother - he served in WW2 as a Stoker in the Navy (SN1979)

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