The AIF Project

William Gilroy WATSON

Regimental number1
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
SchoolHigh School, Dublin, Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationClerk
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35
Height5' 8.5"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinBrother, Rev I L Watson, Ardee, Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
Previous military serviceServed for 7 years in the 9th Lancers, British Army; served in the South African War.
Enlistment date18 January 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll14 January 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentSergeant Major
Unit name4th Light Horse Brigade, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/4/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board TRANSPORT A29 Suevic on 13 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll50th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 2 April 1917
Age at death38
Place of burialNoreuil Australian Cemetery (Row C, Grave 11), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
151
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked, Sydney, 12 June 1915; proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli Peninsula, 19 October 1915; transferred to 3rd Brigade Headquarters from 4th Light Horse, 25 October 1915; disembarked, Alexandria, Egypt, 29 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance (influenza), Serapeum, 27 January 1916; discharged, 1 March 1916; rejoined unit, Habieta, 3 March 1916.

Found guilty, 3 March 1916, of (1) being drunk, 25 February 1916; (2) breaking arrest from Hospital, Cairo, 26 February 1916; (3) whilst under arrest escaping Canal Zone, 2 March 1916: reduced to the rank of Private.

Transferred to and taken on strength of 10th Bn, Serapeum, 13 March 1916; taken on strength of 50th Bn from 10th Bn, 2 April 1916; transferred to 14th Australian Infantry Training Bn, Tel-el-Kebir, 24 May 1916; embarked, Alexandria, 6 June 1916; disembarked, Plymouth, England, 16 June 1916.

Admitted to Bulford Military Hospital (venereal disease), 19 October 1916; discharged to duty, 27 October 1916, total period of treatment for venereal disease: 9 days.

Proceeded overseas to France, 12 December 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 15 December 1916; marched out to unit, 17 December 1916; retaken on strength of 50th Bn, in the Field, 19 February 1916.

Killed in action, France, 2 April 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WATSON William Gilroy

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