SYMS, William George
| Service Number: | 938 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 February 1915, Keswick Barracks Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Crystal Brook, South Australia, 17 April 1896 |
| Home Town: | Clements Gap, Barunga West, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 5 June 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Vignacourt British Cemetery, Picardie Vignacourt British Cemetery, Vignacourt, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Broughton War Memorial, Port Pirie Fathers of Sailors and Soldiers Association Port Pirie District Roll of Honor WW1, Port Pirie Oval WW1 Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 938, 27th Infantry Battalion, Keswick Barracks Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 938, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 938, 27th Infantry Battalion, Evacuated - Belgium | |
| 5 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 938, 27th Infantry Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", Died of wounds, Vignacourt, France |
Help us honour William George Syms's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by tony griffin
William George Syms was the son of James and Clara Anna Bertha (nee Johns) of Clements Gap. William was born at Crystal Brook in 1896. A farmer, William was 21 years old when he enlisted at Keswick on 15 February 1915.
He was posted to the 27th Battalion and embarked aboard HMAT A2 “Geelong” on 31 May. William was taken on strength of the 27th Battalion and allocated to D Company. The 27th Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 4-12th September 1915. After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the Battalion einforced and retrained before embarking from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, via Marseilles. They were engaged at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm August to September before moving to Belgium. The 27th Battalion was fighting in Belgium when William reported ill with impetigo and was admitted to hospital. On 14 October 1916 he was evacuated to England and admitted to Norfolk War Hospital. Recovered from illness, William proceeded overseas to France on 22 May 1918 and rejoined his battalion on 1 June. Three days later, on 4 June, William received a bullet wound to his head and was admitted to 61st Casualty Clearing Station but died at 5p.m. the following day.
William is buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery, France.
Click images to start slideshow.