The AIF Project

William John HENNESSY

Regimental number110
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressPort Road, Bowden, South Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 7.5"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Mary May Hennessy, Port Road, Bowden, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date20 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialAustralian Cemetery (V. C. Corner No. 5), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, ex-HMAT 'Geelong', 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, 20 December 1915, of (1) overstaying leave from 1700 hours until 2015 hours, (2) breaking camp at 2130 hours: forfeited 2 days' pay for overstaying leave and is awarded 7 days' confined to camp and forfeited 2 days' for breaking camp.

Found guilty, 1 April 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he neglected to comply with an order: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, then transferred to No 12 Casualty Clearing Station, 9 July 1916 (influenza); rejoined unit, 11 July 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, HENNESSY William John

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