William Henry Giles

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 08/01/2018 - 10:00

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Henry

Last Name:

Giles

Date of Birth:

Saturday, November 29, 1884

Mother's Name:

Ellen Giles nee Bourke

Father's Name:

John Giles

Date Enlisted:

Friday, January 8, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

58th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, November 23, 1953

Place of Death:

Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW

Details:

William Giles (Service no 233) was born in Maryborough, Queensland. He came to Wollongong, NSW with his family soon after.

At the time of enlistment William was single, 28 years of age, employed as a labourer and residing in Wollongong, NSW.

William embarked for Egypt soon after enlisting but was returned to Australia in September 1915. He later embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT A33 - Ayrshire with the 13th Light Horse Regiment, 9th Reinforcements on 3 July 1916 and after a stop in Egypt arrived in England on 3 September 1916.

William arrived in France on 25 January 1917 and finally joined 58th Battalion in the field on 18 October 1917. He was in hospital for most of his service due to chronic Asthma and Bronchitis and was finally repatriated to Australia in March 1918. William was medically discharged due to these health issues on 25 July 1918.

William tried to enlist again on 31 July 1918 but was rejected.

In 1919 he married Mary Macrae in Sydney, NSW and together they raised one child. He died in Concord, NSW in 1953 and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GILES W H