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Difference between revisions of "William Francis Cohn"

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|  data22 = [[Armadale (Armadale panel)]]<br />[[Kelmscott War Memorial]] (West panel)
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|  data22 = [[Armadale (Armadale panel)]]<br />[[Kelmscott War Memorial]] (West panel)<br />[[Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour]]
  
 
|  label23 = Medals
 
|  label23 = Medals

Revision as of 18:22, 10 December 2017

Cohn William Francis.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 8 May 1890
Place of Birth Channel Islands, England
Death unknown
Place of Death unknown
Age at Enlistment 26 years, 9 months
Description 5' 5" (1.65m) tall; 120 lbs (54.4 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown, slightly grey hair
Occupation storekeeper's assistant
Religion Church of England
Address Albany road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife Mrs Rhoda Sophia Cohn
Military Information
Reg Number 6002
Date of Enlistment 22 Mar 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 16th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 9 Aug 1916 - 25 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A28 Miltiades
Fate Discharged in UK at own request
Monument Armadale (Armadale panel)
Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel)
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal


Pre War

While Bill was overseas his wife moved to Prospect road, Armadale.

War Service

Soon after entering camp, William was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion.

Having completed his training with the 4th Training Battalion at Rolleston in England on 19 Nov 1916, he was transferred to Codford to await travel to France. During his training he had one AWOL period of two days.

William proceeded to France on 21 Dec 1916 via Folkestone on the SS Princess Clementine. He joined the 16th Battalion on the 2 Jan 1917 on the day that they marched from Cardonnette to Ribemount for unit level rebuild and retraining.

He was one of the many Australians captured at Riencourt during the disastrous attack on Bullecourt on 11 Apr 1917, and was eventually interned at Gef Minden and Gef Angenenlager camps in Germany.

Repatriated via Hull, arriving at Ripon on 3 Dec 1918, and subsequently attached to AIF Administration Headquarters in London from 14 Jan 1919. He requested that his discharge not occur until the functions of his unit are no longer required.

Discharged in the UK on 22 Nov 1919 at his own request, and with his wife in Australia's concurrence.

Post War

Returned to Guernsey to take over his parent's vegetable and flower growing business.

He is most likely the W.F. Cohu listed on the Kelmscott obelisk (Army records confuse the spelling Cohu and Cohn), and the W Cohue on the Armadale face of the Armadale obelisk. No records of any Cohue exist and the only Cohu listed is W.F. Cohn. Married in 1912 to Rhoda Sophia Dawson.

Answering the Call ..Fit for Service ..W.F. Cohn;, Kelmscott[1]

301st Casualty List - Missing W.F. Cohn, Kelmscott[2]

PRISONERS OF WAR...Wm. Francis Cohn, Kelmscott, previously reported missing...[3]

Notes

Name incorrectly spelt on both memorials - Cohu on Kelmscott's, and Cohue on Armadale's.

References

  1. "ANSWERING THE CALL.". The Daily News. XXXV, (12,805). Western Australia. 23 February 1916. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  2. "MISSING.". The Daily News. XXXVI, (13,187). Western Australia. 21 May 1917. p. 5 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  3. "PRISONERS OF WAR.". The Daily News. XXXVI, (13,207). Western Australia. 16 June 1917. p. 8 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

External Links