| Regimental number | 4925 |
| Place of birth | Alphington, Victoria |
| School | Fairfield State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Tailor's cutter |
| Address | St Bernards Road, Alphington, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Next of kin | Father, Mr W H Ladd, Lucerne Crescent, Alphington, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for AIF enlistment on account of eyesight) |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/5 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 21 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 21 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 16), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: William and Henrietta Ladd, Alphington, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 59th Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 20 April 1916. Found guilty, Ferry Post, 8 June 1916, of while on Active Service on 1 June 1916 'did not fall in with baggage guard after being detailed for such duty': awarded 1 hour's fatigue. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume Buried In No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'. Statement, Red Cross File No 1540114, 4603 Pte H. TAYLOR, 59th Bn, 4 September (?) 1916: 'I saw him lying wounded in "No Man's Land" on the night of July 19th. as I went across in the charge; he appeared to be shot through the head. One of his eyes was damaged, and he was spitting blood from his mouth. He lay raised on his hands. As I passed I spoke to him. I had to go on and leave him and have heard nothing further as to his fate. I fear he was done for. I knew him very well.' Second statement, 4227 Pte C. KENNERLEY, A company, 59th Bn (patient, No 2 General Hospital (Quai), Calais), 19 November 1916: 'I saw him hit in "No Man's Land" south of Armentieres about 6.30 p.m. on July 19th. He had a machine gun bullet through his chest. The next morning about 4.30 I saw him dead.' Third statement, 2618 Pte J. FISHER, A Company, 59th Bn (patient, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England), 18 January 1917: 'Ladd got killed in our attack at Fromelles on July 19/1916. He was hit just going over the top. He was buried in a cemetrey (sic) near to a place called "Rifle Villa." I saw his grave there marked with a cross.' Fourth statement, 4603 Pte H. TAYLOR, A Company, 59th Bn, 22 January 1917: 'I saw him lying wounded in No Man's Land at Fleurbaix on the night of July 19. I spoke to him and asked if he was badly wounded. He said "yes" in a whisper. He appeared to be almost dead when I spoke to him ... He must have died where he lay.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, LADD William Henry
Red Cross file 1540114 |