ARNOLD, William Henry
| Service Number: | 1129 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 19 November 1895 |
| Home Town: | Appin, Wollondilly, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer (Fitter & turner) |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 17 November 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Warlencourt British Cemetery II L 27 |
| Memorials: | Appin Public School Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Leichhardt War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1129, 19th Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1129, 19th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1129, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 21st Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 21st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1916-11-17 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ishrat Gill
William Henry Arnold was born on the 19th November, 1895 in Sydney, New South Wales to father John Frederick Arnold and mother Mary Arnold.
Arnold lived on Fredbert Street in Hillcrest, Leichhardt, New South Wales. Records do not confirm that Arnold had any siblings. Arnold grew up within the Roman Catholic faith. Arnold had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.
Before his enlistment, Arnold worked as a fitter and turner. At the time of his enlistment on the 5th February 1915, he was 20 years and 3 months old. Arnold was 5 feet and 5 inches tall and weighed 121 lbs (55kg). On his enlistment, he referenced his father as his next of kin and stated that, prior to serving, in his medical examination, signed on 1st February 1915, he had no disorders and was physically fit.
Arnold embarked to the war on the HMAT Ceramic on the 25th June, 1915.
On the 5th September 1915, Arnold was wounded from a bullet wound (B.W) to his right foot. He was admitted to hospital and transferred after 3 days to another hospital in which he spent 49 days under treatment.
According to records, Arnold served in the 19th Battalion on 19th Feburary, 1916. On the 23rd September, 1916, he was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant. He was later transferred to the 21st Battalion on the 4th November, 1916.
Arnold was injured and died of wounds in action on the 18th November, 1916. After his death, on the 18th December 1916, he was mentioned in Dispatches for ‘good services rendered’ and was issued the Victory Medal. There is contention as to the age of Arnold at his death as it was listed on the Virtual War Memorial as the age of 20, however, Arnold stated in his Attestation Papers that he was 20 years and 3 months at the age of enlistment. Seven years following Arnold’s death, on the 2nd November 1925, his father received a letter regarding his son’s final resting place. The letter informs the grave details and the headstone to be erected onto his grave with his full credentials engraved.
Records state that William Arnold wrote a will on the 14th August, 1915, to his mother, requesting that she receive all of his belongings/effects and property.
Arnold was buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery at Plot 2., Row L., Grave number 27.
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