TREBILCOCK, William Edward
| Service Number: | 55239 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 April 1918 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 15 June 1896 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo Members of The Beehive Staff Pictorial Honor Roll, White Hills Methodist Church Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Apr 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 55239, 1st to 17th (VIC) Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1918: | Involvement Private, 55239, 1st to 17th (VIC) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1918: | Embarked Private, 55239, 1st to 17th (VIC) Reinforcements, RMS Orontes, Sydney | |
| 2 Oct 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 8th Infantry Battalion, England | |
| 25 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 55239, 8th Infantry Battalion, RTA 23 July 1919 and discharged (TPE). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
William Edward Trebilcock was born at Epsom, nr. Bendigo, on 15 June, 1896, the son of Edwin and Annie Willoughby Trebilcock. His father died in 1906, and William lived with his mother at 59 Honeysuckle St, Bendigo. He was a Draper, and was employed in the Dress department of the Beehive Stores.
On 8.4.18 William Edward Trebilcock enlisted for service in the AIF. This was not his first attempt to enlist as he had been rejected previously on account of poor teeth. He was 21 years & 10 months old.
“Mr W. Trebilcock, of the Beehive stores has volunteered for active service, and on Saturday the staff of the silk department presented him with a military camp outfit. The presentation was made by the department manager Mr W. Hefferman, who congratulated the new recruit on his decision, and wished him a speedy return. . . . . Mr Trebilcock, in response, thanked the staff for their excellent and useful gift. He goes into training in a few days.” [Bendigonian 18 April 1918]
On 23.4.18 he began training with the Recruit Depot Battalion at Broadmeadows Camp. He was subsequently Appointed to the 5th Reinforcements for the Victorian General Service Battalion and Allotted Service No. 55239.
“As evidence of the urgent necessity for men at the front, Private W. Trebilcock, of Bendigo, who enlisted only a few weeks ago, is now on final leave. On Monday the employes of the dress department of the Beehive Stores and others presented the departing soldier with a wristlet watch and a safety razor. Private Trebilcock, who is well known in Bendigo, was for seven years employed at the Beehive, and for three years was attached to the dress department of the store.” [Bendigonian 30 May 1918]
William Embarked at Sydney per R.M.S. “Orontes” (5.6.18). He Disembarked at Liverpool (11.8.18) and reported at the 14th Training Battalion at Codford on 12.8.18. At Codford he was allotted to 60th Battalion Reinforcements. On 2.10.18 he was transferred to 8th Battalion Reinforcements. He embarked for France (22.11.18) and joined the 8th Battalion on 2.12.18. In January, 1919, he spent 10 days in hospital suffering from Influenza, re-joining his battalion on 31.1.19.
On 25.4.19 he was Granted Leave for Non-Military Employment. This period was spent working with wool and soft goods at the establishment of Messrs Lucien & Marcans at Bradford, Yorkshire.
He was re-transferred to the 8th Battalion on 6.6.19 and embarked for Australia on 23.7.19.
“Members of the Beehive Staff who Served in the Great War”: Larna Malone
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