HEALY, William James
| Service Number: | 855 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 January 1901 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles |
| Born: | Monbulk, Victoria, Australia, 28 July 1880 |
| Home Town: | Monbulk, Yarra Ranges, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Enteric Fever, Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 2 August 1901, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria, South Africa |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Boer War Memorial (Queen Victoria Square), Brunswick Boer War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 855 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 855, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles | |
| 20 Jan 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 855, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles | |
| 15 Feb 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 855, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Departed Port Melbourne on SS "Orient". | |
| 2 Aug 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 855, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, D.O.D. (Enteric Fever) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
William was the son of Patrick Healy and Kate Webb.
He was born in the Yarra Ranges in 1880. Bill, as he was known, was Bushman. He enlisted in 5VMR on 15 Feb 1901. Note that 5VMR was raised after Federation.
However, he enlisted before the Commonwealth Horse Battalions were raised for service in South Africa. His older brother Patrick had enlisted before him. Patrick survived but William did not. Like many who served in that long ago conflict, William died from Enteric Fever. He was buried in Pretoria's Church Street Cemetery. Patrick Healy [210] Fourth Victorian Imperial Bushman, returned to South Africa to fight once again for the Empire. Patrick settled there post war. Patrick subsequently became a Police Office in the South African Constbulary.
The Healy brothers were both born in Monbulk. They were both Bushmen. They both enlisted and fought in the Boer War. However, William did not survive Active Service. His brother Patrick did survive the Boer War.
Monbulk is a small township in the Yarra Ranges in Victoria. It was where they were born and raised as Bushmen.
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