PACKWOOD, William
| Service Number: | 10780 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Woolaston England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 10780, 6th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 10780, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 10780, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 25 Sep 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column |
Help us honour William Packwood's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Matthew Grice
Launcelot William Packwood was born around Feb 1890 in Bozeat, Northamptonshire, England to parents William Packwood (1856-1905) and Emily Jane Eldridge (1859-1903). The 1891, 1901 and 1911 British census states Bozeat as his place of birth yet his AIF record states “Woolaston” (Misspelling of Wollaston which is just down the road from Bozeat). Launcelot had 2 siblings that died in infancy and when his parents both died in quick succession he was sent to live with his uncle, Louis Henry Packwood. Launcelot is registered in the 1911 census with his uncle (Launcelot has previously been living with them in the 1891 census but was with his parents for the 1901 census) and in 1912 travels to South Australia to live with or near his father/uncle’s maternal cousin, James Smith (1853-1930) of James Smith Ltd. furniture stores in Adelaide. Louis Henry Packwood’s mother was Rebecca Lovell and James Smith’s mother was Fanny Lovell.
In 1915 Launcelot enlists with the AIF (Artillery Brigade) under his middle name, William, and list his next of kin as his uncle Louis Henry Packwood and at a later date changes it to his “cousin” (technically 1st cousin 1st removed), J. Smith of 52 Hindley Street, Adelaide. The successful furniture/drapery store James Smith Ltd. was run from this location and one of James’s sons also served overseas (#26089 Reginald Kenneth Denny Smith who also served in the Artillery).
Launcelot returned home on the 25th September 1919 almost 4 years to the day he enlisted. From this date onwards his whereabouts are currently unknown. In April 1924 his WW1 medals remained unclaimed. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129832472
On the 4th March 1953 a notice appeared in the Melbourne newspaper, Weekly Times asking for information on ‘Launcelot Packwood’ that also summarizes much of the info above:
INFORMATION is required concerning LAUNCELOT PACKWOOD
formerly of Wollaston, in the County of Northampton, who left the United Kingdom for Australia in the year 1912. He is believed to have lived and worked
at a store owned by Frank Smith, of Hindley Street, Adelaide, and came to England with the Australian Army in the First World War and then returned to Australia. Will the said Launcelot Packwood or any person able to give
information please communicate with P. R. E. SMITH & CO, Solicitors, 60a Oxford Street, Wellingborough, England.
Source: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224025480?searchTerm=%22launcelot%20packwood%22#
Note: The Frank Smith (1888-1948) named above is the son of James Smith (1853-1930) who took over his father’s business in the 1920’s.
If anyone has any more info on Launcelot William Packwood you can contact me at [email protected]