| Regimental number | 6070 |
| Place of birth | Wychitella, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Quarryman |
| Address | Deer Park PO, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Weight | 168 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, H. Matchan, PO, Deer Park, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 6th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/5 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 38th Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 28 July 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 11 September 1916. Taken on strength of 38th Bn, Larkhill, 30 September 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 22 November 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 23 November 1916. Promoted Corporal, 22 December 1916. Admitted to No 10 Australian Field Ambulance, 8 January 1917 (pleurisy); transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 8 January 1917; discharged and rejoined unit, 14 January 1917. Deatched to 3rd Australian Division School, 28 January 1917. Promoted Sergeant, 10 June 1917. Admitted to No 10 Australian Field Ambulance, 16 August 1917; transferred to No 10 Stationary Hospital, St Omer, 18 August 1917 (not yet diagnosed); to No 7 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 21 August 1917 (infantile paralysis); to No 10 Convalescent Depot, Ecault, 23 August 1917 (pyrexia of unknown origin); discharged, 30 August 1917; marched into 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Rouelles, 1 September 1917. Marched out to 2nd Anzac Headquarters Permanent Base Draft, 8 September 1917. Detached to 2nd Anzac Headquarters, 12 September 1917. Marched into 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Rouelles, 20 September 1917. Proceeded to England, 26 September 1917; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 27 September 1917. Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Anchisses', 1 November 1917; disembarked Melbourne, 3 January 1918; discharged Melbourne (medically unfit), 6 February 1918. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Note: Infantile paralysis at age 3, worse in France, 21 September 1917, right arm always weak, left upper limb wasted, grip poor: definite wasting of interossei muscles for right arm, bilateral tremor. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 37 |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, MATCHAN William John |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
