Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Ness was born around November of 1887, in Tarcowie, Port Lincoln, South Australia. He lived in “Warron” Port Lincoln and worked as a farmer. He was single and his next of kin was his mother who lived in Mount Hope, Port Lincoln. He enlisted 14 February 1916 and was 35 years and 3 months old.

He lived in a very large family, his parents’ names were Susan Ness and Hugh Ness. His sibling’s names were Ruth Ness Myers, Angus Ness, Benjamin Ness, Jessie Ness Doudle, David Ness, Hugh Ness, Elizabeth Ness Winstanley, Sydney Ness, Olive Ness Howell. His brother Sydney also enlisted in the army two months later in May. Sydney Ness was in the 50th infantry battalion and was killed in action in 1918. Ness also had another sibling in the army named John Green. Green enlisted one month after Ness in March of 1916. Green was in the 5th Pioneer Battalion and was killed in action at age 27 on Menin Road, Belgium, 30th September 1917.

William Ness left his job as a famer and his unit embarked from Australia on the 9th of June 1916. His regimental number was 845. He was appointed the Private rank. Privates were the lowest ranking soldier in the army, and they made up the majority of the army.  They had to follow all orders and they had power over no one in the army. Privates were paid 1 shilling and 1 pence every day for serving as part of the military.

Ness was a part of the original 43rd battalion which left on the 9th of March in 1916.  When Ness joined the army, he was originally trained at Morphettville. He was also a part of the C company of the 43rd battalion.

Two months after he embarked from Australia he was admitted to hospital with Bronchitis. He remained in hospital for two months and then proceeded to train at Larkhill in order to prepare for re-entering to the war. He stayed at Larkhill for 5 months and then went to re-join the 43rd battalion. Ness was then transferred to then 27th battalion around 10 days later on the 15th of February 1917.

Ness joined the battalion just after the battalion had joined the front lines. Enemy plane activity during this time was quite high. The battalion was also affected and having troubles with communication due to the enemy plane activity damaging some of the communication wires. After this plane attack however it was stated that the retaliation made by the 27th battalion was very good.

On the 15th of June 1917, while the 27th Battallion was holding the line at Velu – Beaumetz – Morchies, Ness was sent to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. He was sent to hospital with conjunctivitis and was further diagnosed while there with trachoma.  He remained in hospital for five months and was eventually sent home to Australia for discharge from the army in November of 1917.

After the army Ness married Edith Ness. They had four children together named Jessie, Doreen, David, and Allen. He died on December 11th, 1950. He was aged 73 and 1 month when he died.