William Cairns

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 14/01/2017 - 10:11

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Cairns

Date of Birth:

Monday, November 25, 1895

Mother's Name:

Margaret Cairns nee Lavelle

Father's Name:

Thomas Cairns

Date Enlisted:

Monday, January 3, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private/ Shoeing Smith

Rank at Discharge:

Driver

Unit:

Field Artillery Brigade 7

Company:

Brigade Ammunition Column

Service:

Artillery

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, November 25, 1950

Details:

William Cairns (Service No 19383) was born in Wyalong, N.S.W.

William enlisted in Bulli, N.S.W. He was single, 21 years old, employed as a miner and lived at Corrimal, N.S.W.; he had served 3 years with 37th Infantry Militia.

William embarked as a Shoeing Smith from Sydney on HMAT A8 Argyllshire with Field Artillery Brigade 7, Brigade Ammunition Column on 11th May 1916, arriving in England on 10th July 1916 .

Arriving in France on 24th November 1916, he was posted on the 11th February, 1917 to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column as a driver.

On the 4th July 1917 he was sent to hospital in England, sick with trench fever. On 2nd April 1919 he suffered an accidential head injury and was treated for a fractured skull.

William returned to Australia in May 1919 and was discharged as medically unfit on 25th August 1919.

William died in 1950.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CAIRNS W