William Wilfred Gerald Liddington

William Wilfred Gerald Liddington

Western Mail
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1897
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	22 Nov 1948
Place of Death	Hollywood Repatriation Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 4 months
Description	5' 3" (1.60m) tall ; 133 lbs 60.328 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Farm labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr John Liddington
Military Information
Reg Number	6105
Date of Enlistment	3 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement transferred to 16th Battalion and to 4th Machine Gun Battalion / 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return	21 Mar 1919 ‒ 27 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Kildonan Castle
Fate	Wounded in Action (gassed) 20 Aug 1918 at Chuignes Returned to Australia
Monument	Canning Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Initially allocated to the 18th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, he was transferred to the 17th draft while in Western Australia.

On arrival in England he was posted to the 7th Training Battalion in Rollestone, before proceeding to France on 25 Apr 1917. In France he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 2 May 1917 as it moved from Bapaume into the front line in the Somme Valley.

Four days later he was charged with being late on parade and being dirty on parade. On 30 Aug 1917 he was charged with being AWOL for 30 minutes. Bill was transferred to 16th Battalion on 13 Oct 1917 after the 28th had suffered heavy casualties in the Broodseinde Ridge action.

The 16th at this time were in the front and support lines on Westhoek Ridge. He enjoyed a period of leave in England during Jan 1918 before being again transferred, this time to the 4th Machine Gun Battalion on 12 May 1918 in the Blangy - Villers-Bretonneux area.

On 20 Aug 1918, while in the Harbonnieres area, Bill was affected by a gas shell. Initially seen at the 37th Casualty Clearing Station, the next day he received treatment from both the 4th Field Ambulance, and 12th Casualty Clearing Station before finishing up in the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeyville. He rejoined his unit on 16 Sep 1918 without the need for treatment in England. However, he was granted leave to England from 11 to 25 Nov 1918.

In March 1919 he began the journey home from Le Havre to Southampton and then to Sutton Veny, before boarding the SS Kildonan Castle in Devonport. He disembarked in Fremantle on 17 Apr 1919 and was discharged by the 5th Military District on 12 Jun 1919.

Post War

Older brother George William who was born in Pinjarra was an inaugural member of 16th Battalion. Father (NOK) died before Bill came home (7 Jan 1918).

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 a mill hand at Nanga Brook; 1925 at the 9 Mile Camp Peel Estate, a horse driver; 1931 a teamster at Henry street East Cannington with Mother Mary Ann who died there on 2 Feb 1932 aged 72. 1934 by himself at Henry street. In 1949 a notice in paper from step children Phyllis and Wallis as well as their mother Rose Eliza.

Notes

Resident of Cannington who died in the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial