TATHAM, William James
| Service Number: | 1845 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Pinjarra, Western Australia, Australia, 12 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Pinjarra, Murray, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | West Murray Public School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Fisherman |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 5 July 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix Plot I, Row E, Grave No. 10. GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Halls Head Mandurah Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial, Pinjarra War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1845, 11th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1845, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1845, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 5 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 1845, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1845 awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Tatham was known as ‘Will’ to his family and friends. He was a fisherman and played football with the West Murray Football Club. He enlisted at the age of 19 in the 11th Battalion and served on Gallipoli from June 1915. He was evacuated to Malta sick a few months later.
During early 1916 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion, and joined his brother Alfred who was serving in the unit. Will arrived in France during June 1916 and was one of the first casualties of the 51st Battalion when they were in trenches near Fleurbaix, killed most probably by a stray shell on 5 July 1916.
His brother, 3639 Pte. Alfred Tatham 51st Battalion AIF was also killed in action at Mouquet Farm about six weeks later, aged 27. They were the sons of Joseph James and Catherine Ellen Tatham, of Pinjarra, Western Australia.
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