William Henry Baldwin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	26 Jun 1895
Place of Birth	Serpentine, Western Australia
Death	15 May 1967
Place of Death	Victoria
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 3 months
Description	5'3¾" (1.62 m)tall; weight 110 lbs (49.9 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair.
Occupation	carter
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK Mundijong, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Richard Baldwin
Military Information
Reg Number	3247
Date of Enlistment	25 Sep 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	48th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	23 Dec 1916 - 16 Feb 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A35 Berrima
Ship Returned On	HMAT A15 Port Sydney
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Mundijong Serpentine
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

In January 1916 Willie sought to enlist in the AIF, but was rejected as unfit for military service. However, after the AIF suffered heavy casualties, he again applied in September and this time was accepted, (3247) and was assigned to the 8th Reinforcements for the 48th Battalion. Five days after entering teh Blackboy Hill camp, Willie was sent to Signals School from 30 Sep to 30 Nov 1916. Allocated to the 8th reinforcement draft for the 48th Battalion the next day, he sailed soon after for England.

Willie embarked on the HMAT A35 Berrima, on 23 Dec 1916 in Fremantle. The initial destination was Devonport, England, where they arrived on 16 Feb 1917.

Following training with the 12th Training Battalion at Codford and a couple of stints in hospital, proceeded overseas to France via Southampton, where he was taken on the strength of the 48th Battalion on 21 Jun 1917. He joined his unit at Doulieu. At the time, the 48th Battalion was having a rest after taking heavy casualties during the battle for Messines Ridge.

On 29 Jun 1917 the Battalion marched to Ploegsteert where they were then held in reserve. The area was at that time described as a mess, and the Battalion provided many working parties which in turn were frequently hit by shell fire. It would appear that this accounted for Willie's injury on 6th of July 1917 which, although it is recorded in his army records as 'wounded in action - slight' and 'remaining on duty', was not significant enough to be recorded in the Battalion history book.

In the middle of July the Battalion left Ploegsteert and returned to Doulieu for further rest and retraining and Willie spent this period (6th Jul 1917 to 21 Aug 1917) in hospital - sick. At the end of August the Battalion again enters the front line, this time south-east of Wytschaete where they remained for the rest of the month. In October Willie spent 5-6 weeks away from the Battalion in hospital with Synovitis of the knee passing through the hands of the 4th Australian Field Ambulance to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Rouen, France.

On rejoining the unit, Willie is detached to the 12th Brigade Machine Gun Company on 25 Mar 1918 and his regimental number is altered to 3247A. This is the day before the 48th Battalion again moves to the forward trenches and prepares for an attack on Paschendaele Ridge . This 'loan' is formalised in late March 1918, just before the new unit is labelled as the 4th Machine Gun Battalion (1 Apr 1918), and he remains with them until War's end, despite spending another period as a guest at the 1st Australian General Hospital (6 Apr to 8 Jun 1918). Remaining in England until 22 Sep 1919, Willie enjoys a period of leave (1 May to 7 Aug 1919) in order to receive Agricultural work experience with a TH Ward of Galding, Pitchford, Shrewsbury. On paper he is transfered to the AIF Headquarters in London. He returns to Australia, landing at Fremantle on 4th November via {{HMAT A15 Port Sydney]] and was discharged by 5th Military District on 19th December 1919. His postal address at that time is c/- Book Arcade, Boans Ltd, Perth. (Prior to enlistment he described himself as a Library Carter.) A copy of his service summary was also sent to the Secretary, Pride of U.A.O.D., Whittakers Mill, North Dandalup. at Willie's request in February 1920. Therefore we can assume that for a time after his return to Australia he was working there, and perhaps residing with his sister Nellie and her family.

Post War

His postal address at that time is c/- Book Arcade, Boans Ltd, Perth. (Prior to enlistment he described himself as a Library Carter.) A copy of his service summary was also sent to the Secretary, Pride of U.A.O.D., Whittakers Mill, North Dandalup. at Willie's request in February 1920. Therefore we can assume that for a time after his return to Australia he was working there, and perhaps residing with his sister Nellie and her family.