Private William Chapman Booth

William Chapman Booth was born at Bacchus Marsh, VIC, in 1898, to William Booth and Christina Campbell. William had a brother, Thomas, who is also remembered in the Avenue.

Living at Rowsley, VIC, near Bacchus Marsh and working as a labourer, William Booth enlisted in the AIF on the 17^th of January 1917, at the age of 18. He embarked from Melbourne aboard the HMAT Shropshire with the 2^nd Australian Pioneer Battalion⁽¹⁾, 9^th Reinforcements in May and disembarked at Plymouth, England, in July.

He was hospitalised with influenza for a time shortly after arriving in England. In May 1918 William was at the Brigade Signal School, Sutton Veny. In March 1919 he was detached from the 2^nd Pioneers for duty with AIF Headquarters. William spent two weeks in hospital at the end of August before embarking for Australia aboard the Raranga in September, arriving home at the end of October 1919.

William was discharged from the AIF on the 23^rd of January 1920. He was living at Hawthorn, VIC, shortly after discharge and died at Heidelberg⁽²⁾, VIC, in 1973, aged 74.

He is listed on the Roll of Honour for Bacchus Marsh, held by the RSL at Bacchus Marsh.

Notes

1. Pioneer battalions differed from normal infantry in that they would be composed of a mixture of men who were experienced with picks and shovels and some who had skilled trades . A Pioneer battalion would also carry a range of technical stores that infantry would not.
2. Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

Location of Tree Number S022

Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) latitude = -37.677811109722576 longtitude = 144.45084393810248

Related Links

• Timeline
• Nominal Roll
• Embarkation Roll
• Service Records
• Unit Diaries

Last updated by lee, Sat, 21 Oct 2017 10:22:36