19657
POSSINGHAM, William Harold
| Service Number: | 576 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Houghton, South Australia, 21 May 1866 |
| Home Town: | Houghton, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Telegraph Lineman |
| Died: | Naracoorte, South Australia, 22 December 1966, aged 100 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Naracoorte Cemetery, S.A. Plot E1516, Naracoorte - Old Eastern Cemetery. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Officers of S.A. Post, Telegraph and Telephone Department Great War Roll of Honor, Henley Beach Council WW1 Service Roll, Houghton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 13 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, Wounded in Action, France. Gunshot wound (GSW) to back and severe shell shock. | |
| 1 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, Wounded 2nd occasion. | |
| 11 May 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, 'For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the attack on LE BARQUE on 26th February, 1917 [the Somme]. Sergeant POSINGHAM attacked single handed, an enemy machine gun, but was wounded by a bomb, and the gunners unfortunately got away with their gun.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140 Date: 27 August 1917 | |
| 30 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, Wounded 3rd occasion. GSW France L. Finger, fractured phalanx | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 13 Dec 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 576, 12th Infantry Battalion, Embarked London, "Port Hacking". Disembarked Melbourne, 27/01/1919. | |
| 28 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion, Medical discharge, due to GSW L. hand. |
Help us honour William Harold Possingham's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Nanette Reid
In 1954, Mr. Possingham received an MBE for providing outstanding public service at Naracoorte, South Australia.
Amongst said services, he was an advisory member of the War Memorial Committee for 10 years, was appointed one of the original fire control officers for the local government. and an ex-member of the government scheme, the Returned Soldiers' Land Settlement Committee.
This scheme was designed to encourage returned First World War servicemen to become property-owning farmers, through the development of rural areas.
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Willie Harold Possingham enlisted on the 5th of September 1914. He lived in Houghton, South Australia with his mother Mrs Elizabeth Possingham. Before joining the army, Willie was a telegraph lineman meaning he was responsible for maintaining lines around areas which were usually damaged from bad weather, natural events, and vandalism.
Willie was a part of the 12th Infantry Battalion. He won the military medal for bravery and devotion to duty.
Willie was wounded in action a few times during his time as a soldier and he fought at both Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He survived the war returning to Australia and was discharged in April 1919.
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