30994
MILLER, William Alexander
| Service Number: | 3282 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wirrabara, South Australia, 6 May 1889 |
| Home Town: | Quorn, Flinders Ranges, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Daw Park, South Australia, Australia, 11 July 1969, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia General AF, Path 28, Site 768A |
| Memorials: | Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3282, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 3282, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Malakuta embarkation_ship_number: A57 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 3282, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Malakuta, Adelaide |
First enlistment
William enlisted initially 12/8/1915 at Cowell. He was 23 years old. Whilst he was in camp his father, Joseph, died. William was discharged 19/11/1915 so he could help his mother, Agnes, with the harvest. He re-enlisted 16/3/1916. He was quite badly wounded in France. He died at 80 years of age. His name is inscribed on the WW1 Cowell Honour Board.
Submitted 6 June 2021 by Beverley Stocker
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William Alexander was born on the 6th of May 1889 in the Town of Wirrabara, SA. William’s spent his early life growing up with his next in kin Miss J Miller, his mother. William had brown eyes, brown hair and was 6ft 1. Before enlisting into the army, Williams occupation was a farmer. Williams religion was Methodist.
William enlisted as an A.I.F Private on the 16th of March 1916 at the age of 23, at that time, William was still single. William enlisted in a town called Quorn. William embarked from Australia on the 24th of June 1916.
William was first directed to the 2nd Depot Battalion. William was soon sent overseas to fight in France on November the 11th 1916. He was taken by the 7th Battalion but was soon transferred to the 32nd Battalion. Williams Battalion fought in the battle of Fromelles. Whilst in battle, William was wounded in action on the 9th of December 1916. William was soon transported to a England for medical attention on the 17th of December 1916. After a while, William returned to the France on the 14th of October 1917. William's Battalion was involved in the Poelcappelle battle. On the 5th of December, William was sick with mumbs and was sent back to the hospital. On the 2nd May 1918 he was wounded for the second time, gassed. He rejoined his unit on the 16th July 1918 and was wounded again for the third time on the 8th August 1918, He rejoined his unit on the 28th August 1918, Again he was wounded for the fourth time on the 29th September 1918 with a gunshot wound to his thigh. On the 7th October 1918 he was invalided.
William returned from France to Australia on the 21st of June 1919. On the 3rd of September 1920 William was discharged from the army.
William died on the 11th of July 1969 at the age of 80 in South Australia Daw Park. His reason of death is unknown.
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