William Dixon Vidler

Submitted by bronlen on Sun, 05/04/2015 - 08:02

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Dixon

Last Name:

Vidler

Mother's Name:

Issabella Dawes

Father's Name:

William James Vidler

Date Enlisted:

Monday, June 12, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Company:

6th Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

1914/15 Star

Date of Death:

Tuesday, March 5, 1957

Place of Death:

Wollongong

Details:

William Dixon Vidler (Service No 2743) was born in Jamberoo, N.S.W. He enlisted with the AIF at Kiama when he was 34 years of age. At this time he was married to Annie, and worked as a farmer at Albion Park, N.S.W.

Upon enlistment he was assigned to the 45 Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, and embarked with his Unit from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic, on 7 October. 1916.

William served on the Western Front, and on 6 March, 1917 he was transferred to the 13th Battalion. Shortly after, on 11 April, William was reported to be missing in action in France. He was later found to be a Prisonor of War in Germany. The AIF wrote to William's wife on 18 August, 1917, reporting he was in Gefangenenlager Soltau, Germany.

William was repatriated at the end of the war, arriving in England on 26 December, 1918.

On 9 February, 1919, William returned to Australia. He was finally discharged from the AIF on 12 May, 1919.

William was presented with a medallion by the Citizens of Jambaroo for services to the Empire, 1919.
His name is commemorated on the Jamberoo School of Arts Roll of Honour.

He died at the age of 74.

Sources:

Grandson Phillip Vidler.

NAA: B2455, VIDLER WILLIAM DIXON