The AIF Project
William Harold North
First Name:
William
Middle Name:
Harold
Last Name:
North
Mother's Name:
Margaret North
Father's Name:
William James North
Rank at Enlistment:
Private
Rank at Discharge:
Sapper
Unit:
12th Reinforcement
Company:
13th Battalion
Service:
Infantry
Awards:
British General Service Medal
Victory Medal
Details:
William Harold North (Service No 3868) was born at Balgownie. He enlisted at Holsworthy, Sydney, on 17 August 1915, when he was19 years of age. At this time William was appointed to the 12th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion, 4th Division.
William listed his address as Balgownie,and his father as his next of kin. William was a single man and worked as a miner at the Mt Pleasant Colliery, together with his father and older brother Thorne.
William stated he was still serving with the 37th Infantry on his Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad, dated 30th August 1915.
William embarked from Sydney on board HMT A29 Suevic on 20 December 1915.
William served in Alexandria, Egypt & France. In 1916, while serving in France, William received a gunshot wound to his left leg. On his recovery he transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company as a Sapper, serving alongside his brother, Thorne North, who later died of wounds, with William by his side.
After Thorne's death, William continued to serve as a Tunneller, but was severely gassed twice, and was invalided back to Australia on 1 April 1919 on the HMS Shropshire.
Sources:
NAA: B2455 NORTH WILLIAM HAROLD
