BOOKER, William James
| Service Number: | 6230 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dunedin, New Zealand, 13 November 1885 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith's Assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 April 1917, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Haymarket Railways Blacksmiths Honour Roll, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Apr 1916: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 6230, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 6230, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 6230, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 9 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 6230, 2nd Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Killed in Action, Hermies, France: member of the Bombing Section, D Company, 2nd Battalion, AIF |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
William James BOOKER (Service Number 6230) was born on 13 November 1885 at Dunedin, New Zealand. He commenced work with the NSW Railways as a striker (a blacksmith’s assistant) in February 1913, becoming permanent in June. He was given leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 28 April 1916. At the time of his enlistment he was married to Gertrude.
He left Australia on HMAT ‘Euripides’ from Sydney on 9 September 1916, arriving in Plymouth on 20 October. After further training in England he proceeded to France through Folkestone in February 1917, joining the 2nd Battalion. Two months later he was killed in action 9 April 1917. He was killed instantly by a sniper at Hermies about 7.30 a.m. He was buried in the Military Grave Yard at the back of Headquarters, Hermies, with about 20 other soldiers. Although the Pioneers were to put a cross on the grave, and a witness could point it out, its location was subsequently lost, and Booker is recorded on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
(NAA B2455-3098652)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Husband of Mrs. G.E. BOOKER, Elba, William Street, Randwick, NSW
Member of the Sydney St John 80 Lodge
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