The AIF Project

Richard Watson BICKFORD

Regimental number11909
Place of birthPerth, Western Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationClerk
AddressRandwick, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation17.7
Height5' 3"
Weight128 lbs
Next of kinFather, Ernest John Bickford, Greville Street, Randwick, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 5 months in the Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date13 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit nameField Ambulance 9, Section A
AWM Embarkation Roll number26/52/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 11 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Field Ambulance
FateReturned to Australia 1 July 1919
Discharge date5 October 1919
Family/military connectionsFather: 22221 Corporal Ernest John BICKFORD, 7th Field Company Engineers, returned to Australia, 25 September 1919; Brothers: 6175 Pte Dillon Stephen BICKFORD, 6th Bn, returned to Australia, 4 July 1919; 3752 Lance Corporal Howell Nicholas BICKFORD, 31st Bn, died of wounds, 12 April 1919.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 11 May 1916; disembarked England, 10 July 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 23 November 1916.

Appointed Driver, 20 April 1917.

Temporarily attached for duty to Mobile Workshop (Heavy), 3 April 1917; discharged to unit, 6 April 1917.

Found guilty, 13 November 1917, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he when on horse picquet at the stables Pont Achelles on the night of 13/14 November did not carry out his instructions and count the horses in the presence of the relieving Picquet: awarded 7 days' confined to barracks and 3 extra Picquets.

Reverted to Private at own request, 14 February 1918.

Proceeded on leave, 22 December 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 7 January 1918.

Wounded in action, 9 April 1918 (gun shot wound, right shoulder), and admitted to 9th Field Ambulance; transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 12 April 1918; to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 13 April 1918; to England, 17 April 1918, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, 19 April 1918 (gun shot wound, back, septic); transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 7 May 1918; discharged to No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 9 May 1918.

Marched out to Australian Army Medical Corps Training Depot, 26 June 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 10 July 1918; rejoined unit, in the field, 18 July 1918.

On leave to Paris, 6 February 1919; rejoined unit from leave, 16 February 1919.

On leave to United Kingdom, 1 March 1919; rejoined unit from leave, 17 March 1919.

Detached to 11th Field Ambulance, 19 March 1919.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 16 April 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Frankfurt', 1 July 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 20 August 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), 5 October 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BICKFORD Richard Watson

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