William John GARNHAM

GARNHAM, William John

Service Number: 5341
Enlisted: 4 February 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 24th Infantry Battalion
Born: Lang Lang, Victoria, Australia, 12 August 1889
Home Town: Archies Creek, Bass Coast, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, At Sea, on board HMAT Miltiades (A28), United Kingdom, 13 August 1916, aged 27 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Buried at sea, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, England, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
Memorials: Archies Creek Ryanston State School Pictorial Honour Roll, Archies Creek Ryanston State School Pictorial Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton
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World War 1 Service

4 Feb 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 24th Infantry Battalion
1 Aug 1916: Involvement Private, 5341, 24th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''
1 Aug 1916: Embarked Private, 5341, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Melbourne

Help us honour William John Garnham's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 13th August…… Private William John Garnham was born at Lang Lang, Victoria in 1889. He married Olive Irene Brown at Lang Lang, Victoria on 22nd February, 1912. They had 2 children – Mabel Mary (May) Garnham (born 1912) & Irene Wilma Garnham (born 1914).
William Garnham enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 4th February, 1916 as a 26 year old, married, Dairy Farmer from Archie’s Creek, Victoria. He was admitted to Clearing Hospital Royal Park, Victoria on 2nd July, 1916 with Influenza & was discharged on 5th July, 1916.

Private William John Garnham embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Miltiades (A28) on 1st August, 1916 with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinforcements.
William John Garnham’s younger brother – John Joseph Garnham also embarked on HMAT Miltiades (A28) on 1st August, 1916.

Private William John Garnham was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 9th August, 1916 with Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. Sadly he died on 13th August, 1916 at Sea, on board HMAT Miltiades (A28) from Cerebro Spinal Meningitis.

Private William John Garnham was buried at Sea on 13th August, 1916. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Private William John Garnham was one of four deaths on board HMAT Miltiades (A28) on the voyage from Australia to England.

[Private William John Garnham had 2 younger brother’s that enlisted in the A.I.F.
• Eric Stanley Garnham enlisted 7th October, 1914. He was a Farmer, aged 19. Corporal Eric Stanley Garnham returned to Australia on 2nd January, 1919.
• John Joseph Garnham enlisted 1st March, 1916. He was a Labourer, aged 18. He was wounded in action in France on 3rd May, 1917. Returned to Australia 16th July, 1917 for Change – GSW to left elbow joint & fracture of lower end Humerus. Medically discharged from Australian Imperial Force 21st December, 1917.]

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/g---j.html

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