CONLIN, William Thomas Joseph
| Service Number: | 2176 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 July 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Strathalbyn, Alexandrina, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Hotel Assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 29 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Heilly Station Cemetery Plot II, Row I, Grave No. 4, Mericourt-L’Abbe, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Strathalbyn District Roll of Honor WW1, Strathalbyn RSL Hall Honour Board, Strathalbyn War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jul 1916: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), 2176, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2176, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2176, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 29 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2176, 43rd Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2176 awm_unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-03-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Aloysius College
William Thomas Joseph Conlin was born in about Novemern 1894, in Broken Hill, New South Wales. He was the son of Mary Conlin, but his father’s name was not recorded. He soon moved to Strathalbyn, South Australia. Conlin was a Roman Catholic. Before Conlin was enlisted, he worked as a hotel assistant.
On the 17th of July 1916, Conlin was enlisted in the army. He was described on enlisting as 21 years and 8 months old; single; 6’1 tall; light brown hair; grey eyes and fresh complexion. Conlin was a Private in the 43rd Infantry Battalion. Before Conlin had even departed for the war on the 11th of August 1916, he was sent to Mitcham Clearing with influenza. 6 days later he was discharged from Mitcham Clearing. Conlin embarked from Adelaide on the “Anchises” on the 28th of August 1916.
On the 11th of October 1916, Conlin disembarked in Plymouth. Later on, on the 13th of October, he marched out to his unit in England. Unfortunately, Conlin was admitted to Codford camp on the 28th of August 1916 with an unknown disease. He was discharged 14 days later on the 11th of October 1916.
On the 9th of March 1917, Conlin was appointed Extra Depot Corporal in England. A few months later, on the 18th of June 1917, Conlin was an Extra Depot Corporal on Command at Canadhar School of Instruction in Tidworth. Then on the 29th of June 1917, the Extra Depot Corporals reverted to ranks in England. On the 14th of October 1917, Private Proceeded overseas to France via Southampton. On the 23rd of October, 1917 Conlin arrived at the 43rd battalion in the field. Then on the 6th of November 1917, Conlin was to be Lance Corporal .
A year had passed and Conlin was still in France serving for Australia. On the 17th of March 1918, Conlin was detached to an NCO school for a few days, returning on the 22nd. A week later, on the 29th of March, he was killed in action.
William Conlin sadly never returned to Australia as he was killed in action at the age of 22 or 23. He died in The Battle of Somme (Sailly-le-sec) also known as the German Spring Offensive. This battle is dated from the 1st of March 1918 to the 31st of March 1918. This battle was one of three major German attacks on the Western Front.
He is buried the Heilly Station Cemetery (Plot II, Row I, Grave No. 4) Mericourt-L’Abbe, France. William Conlin was awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal.
Lest we forget.
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