BARCLAY, William Hector
| Service Number: | 540 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 March 1916, Geelong, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1879 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cook |
| Died: | Victoria, Australia, 5 February 1946, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Geelong Western Cemetery, Victoria GCT_WST_PRES_No-1126A |
| Memorials: | Newtown All Saints Church Honour Roll, Victorian Garden of Remembrance, Waurn Ponds Shire of South Barwon Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 540, 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion, Geelong, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 540, 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 540, 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
William Hector Barclay enlisted for service numerous times. Husband to Sarah Ellen (née Lomas) Barclay recorded his address as Bareena Post Office, Retreat Road Newtown. There were 5 children - Ivy, Vera, Violet, William J and Lila.
William’s initial enlistment was on 5 February 1915 in Geelong, aged 36 years and stated his occupation as a cook. He was appointed to the Geelong Depot but discharged as medically unfit due to Varicose Veins on 25 May 1915 from Broadmeadows. He served for 105 days.
William enlisted again on 8 September 1915, this time aged 36 years 11 months in Geelong and was appointed to Camp Duties serving out of 19th Depot Battalion, Geelong until 24 February 1916 where he was discharged from Home Service having been found fit for active service. A further enlistment form was completed by William on 14 March 1916 where he was appointed to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 2nd Cyclists Battalion.
William embarked on 1 August 1916 on HMAT Orsova. Upon arrival in England in September, William joined the A Cyclist Training Battalion in Chiseldon Swindon but was admitted to the local hospital on 26 September for one week before rejoining his Battalion.
Suffering from bronchial pneumonia, William was re-admitted to hospital in March 1917 in Harefield Hospital, Uxbridge and on 8 April commenced his return to Australia from Plymouth on the HT Barambah. That ship returned to Australia on 9 June 1917 and William for discharged on 16 July 1917, again as Medically Unfit.
Of interest, when William received war medals in 1924, he listed his address as Moyhu via Wangaratta Victoria.
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