Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served 
 
The final resting place for; - 2413 & V16020 Private William Oram of Brunswick, Victoria had immigrated to Australia from England prior to the outbreak of the First World War, and was employed as a carpenter, residing at Brunswick, Victoria on his enlistment on the 6th of July 1915.

William was allocated to reinforcements for the 2nd Pioneers 1st AIF, and was shipped to England, and further training on the 28th of July 1916, where he arrived on the 11th of September.

Deemed ready for service in the trenches, William was disembarked in France on the 12th of November and entered into the ‘Bull Ring; at Etaples for his final phase of training before sent to his Unit in the field, which he officially joined on the 17th of January 1917.

Aside a brief period of medical care for injuries to his foot, William’s service in the field would be continuous, and he was granted a respite of Leave to England on the 8th of February 1918. Whilst in England William was evacuated for hospitalization due to sickness on the 12th of February.

William’s health only further declined, and after further medical care he was marched out to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot on the 4th of March. Following a prolonged period of convalescences, William was deemed no longer fit for service in the trenches, and began his repatriation to Australia as an invalid, suffering from chronic rheumatism, departing England on the 12th of May.

Following his return to Australia, William was officially discharged from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 13th of August. Still keen to serve with the 1st AIF for further service.

William re-enlisted on the 23rd of August, and was accepted for full-time service with the Australian Army Medical Corps, with whom he would be posted to the Military Sanatorium Macleod, Victoria. Due to personal reasons, William was discharged again from the 1st AIF on the 1st of October 1918.

With the outbreak of a Second World War, William again presented himself for service with the Australian Military Forces when he re-enlisted on the 17th of June 1941, and was accepted for full-time duty within Australia.

William was taken on strength with the 23rd Garrison Battalion, and was engaged in guard duty with the Tatura and Murchison Prisoner of War Camp group. William was transferred to the 22nd Employment Company on the 12th of December 1942, and whilst serving with this Unit, William died on the 3rd of February 1943, of injuries incurred whilst he was on duty.

Following his passing, at the age of 56, Private William Oram, a ‘Great War’ veteran who had chosen to serve Australian in a second world conflict, was formally buried within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.