74825 Returned
WILLIAMS, Spencer
| Service Numbers: | 2869, 2869B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Southwark, South Australia, 21 June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | 21 August 1969, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2869, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2869, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 2869B, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 2869B, 10th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Spencer Williams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Spencer Williams was born on the 21st of June 1895 in Southward, South Australia. His mother was Florence Ellen Williams, and his father was L. Williams. His mother’s name was on his enlistment form, but his father’s signature was signed on a letter sent to the attesting officer to approve of his son’s enlistment in the War. pencer's occupation was a labourer before the war and his religious denomination was Baptist. His medical examination shows he was 20 years and 2 months of age when he enlisted. His height was around 5 feet and 6 ¼ inches, with a weight of 120 lbs. Spencer’s chest measurement was 31 1/2 – 34 inches. His facial complexion, as recorded in the medical examination was fair with blue eyes and light brown hair. His vision was tested at perfect.
He enlisted into the AIF on the 9th of August 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia. On the 27th of October, several fleets of ships carrying AIF troops left Outer Harbour, South Australia to arrive at Gallipoli. Spencer Wiliams embarked the HMAT Benalla on this date.
As part of his first Battalion enrolment, Spencer Williams was moved to the 10th Battalion on the 27th of February 1916 as the 6th Reinforcement from the 27th Battalion. In November 1916 Williams was treated in hospital with sore feet and rejoined his unit in February. Once again on the 9th of May 1917, he was admitted to hospital with a gun shot wound to his left shoulder. He was treated and discharged to Command Depot to convalesce. Again he proceeded overseas to France to rejoin the 10th Battlaion in August 1917 before being wounded again with a gunshot wound to his back on 20th September 1917. He was again sent back to England for hospital treatment. After he was discharged from hospital to Command Depot, he went AWL for a day and was fined. Williams marched in to his unit 26th Feburary 1918 remaining with the 10th Battalion until he was transferred to the School of Instruction in July 1918. He was then appointed as a Driver. After the war ended Williams again went AWL in January 1919 and forfeited 4 days pay. Williams returned to Australia in February 1919 arriving back in Adelaide 31st May 1919. He was officially discharged from the AIF 25th July 1919. (NAA: B2455)
He died on the 16th of June 1969 at the age of 74, with two memorials in two different sites in South Australia: Dudley Park Cemetery and The South Australian Garden of Remembrance.
Referencing
History.com Editors (2009). World War I. [online] History.com. [Accessed 23 Sep, 2024], Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history.
scheme =AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Commonwealth of Australia, D. of D. address=Russell O. (n.d.). World War One 1914-1918 | ADF Members & Families | Defence. [online] www.defence.gov.au. [Accessed: 19 Sep, 2024] Available at: https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/medals/imperial-awards/world-war-one.
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [Accessed: 24 Sep 2024] [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51450.
National WWI Museum and Memorial. (n.d.). Armistice. [online] Available at: https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/armistice#:~:text=On%20Nov..
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2523694/memorial-search?firstname=Spencer+&middlename=&lastname=Williams&cemeteryName=The+South+Australian+Garden+of+Remembrance&birthyear=&birthyearfilter=1&deathyear=&deathyearfilter=&bio=&linkedToName=&plot=&memorialid=&mcid=&datefilter=&orderby=r&page=1#sr-248477713 (this website couldn’t be Harvard referenced)
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). Glossary Views | Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/glossary/a.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84616v (this website could not be Harvard referenced)