ROBERTS, William Norman
| Service Number: | 4756 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Barabba, South Australia, 21 October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Barabba, Mallala, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Barabba School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Illness (Cerebro-spinal meningitis), Egypt, France, 6 June 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Suez War Memorial Cemetery D 12 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mallala Barabba School WW1 Roll of Honor, Mallala District of Grace WW1 Roll of Honor, Mallala War Memorial, Owen District of Dalkey Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4756, 27th Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4756, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4756, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide |
Help us honour William Norman Roberts's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of William Stephenson ROBERTS and Elizabeth Mary nee RAFFERTY of Barabba, SA
HIS COUNTRY CALLED HIM AND HONOR BADE HIM GO
Biography contributed
Private William Norman Roberts (4756) was born in Barabba on the 21st October, 1892. His parents were William Stephenson Roberts and Elizabeth Mary, nee Rafferty.
He enlisted on the 24th January, 1916 at the age of 23 years and 3 months. He gave his occupation as farm labourer. He stood five feet six and half inches tall. He had a fresh complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was initially appointed to B Company 2nd Depot Battalion with the rank of Private.
After initial training at Mitcham he was assigned to the 27th Battalion. He departed the Exhibition Camp on the 16th February, 1916.
On 30th April, he suffered from a mild case of measles and was admitted to hospital. By 14th May he became dangerously ill with fever. He died of cerebro spinal meningitis on 5th June at the Government Hospital, Suez.
He was buried there and later exhumed and re interred at the Suez Christian Military Cemetery, Suez.
His personal effects consisting of a knife, cup, handkerchiefs, steel mirror, two keys, a comb, identity disc, two small books, a notebook and testament were returned on the ”Ulysses”, to his parents in Barabba.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Courtesy of Laura Parsons
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