Military History

 

Embarked from Fremantle per ‘Borda’ A30 for Egypt 17.1.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 8^th Reinforcement, 28^th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Billing disembarked in Egypt with the 8^th Reinforcement, 28^th Battalion. They marched in to No.7 Training Battalion 3.3.1916. After the Evacuation from Gallipoli, Battalions were reorganized and some of the 28^th Battalion were transferred to new 51^st Battalion. Billing was transferred from the 28^th Battalion to the 51^st Battalion on 3.3.1916. He joined the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and embarked for France 5.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 12.6.1916. Billing was hospitalized at Bologna, France with hernia 30.6.1916. He was discharged to the Base Depot and then invalided to England with a hernia 7.7.1916 (Reported seriously ill West Australian Newspaper 5.8.1916). Following his discharge, he reported to HQ in Manchester 11.8.1916, then marched in to Perham Downs 14.8.1916. He proceeded overseas to France and rejoined his unit, now fighting on the Somme.

Billing was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to thigh and forearm 17.1.1917. During this harsh winter the 51^st Battalion fought on the front lines in the trenches. He embarked per Hospital Ship ‘Glenart Castle‘ for England as an invalid 22.1.1917. Billing was admitted to the Reading War Hospital 22.1.1917. He was discharged to Perham Downs 1.2.1917, then transferred to 70^th Battalion 23.3.1917. He proceeded overseas to France with 50^th Battalion 12.9.1917 and was appointed A/Cpl 29.12.1917. The 51st Bn. fought at Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918. Billing was wounded in action (2^nd time) in a battle West of Hamel, receiving gunshot wounds to his feet. He was taken to 4^th Field Ambulance Station 7.7.1918, then transferred by Hospital Ship to England. He was admitted to the Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol 17.7.1918. His left foot was amputated. Billing then endured lengthy periods of hospitalisation and convalescence. He was transferred to 2^nd Auxiliary Hospital 16.8.1918 and transferred to the 2nd Auxiliary General Hospital 28.9.1918. He was reported AWOL 2 days 1.10.1918. Billing was married in England to Miss Islay Mary Campbell Miles 6.12.1918 whom he met at the war hospital. He was listed for early return to Australia as an invalid without his wife.

Embarked UK to Australia per ‘Somali’ 8.12.1918.
Returned/ Disembarked Fremantle 21.1.1919.
Discharged 13.3.1919.
Final Rank Private, 51^st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Invalided amputation of left leg and a reoccurring inguinal hernia.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Although Billings married in England, he refused to pay wife’s fare to Australia post war or have contact with her. He deserted his wife and later divorced her in 1928 (The Call News 9.10.1928 p6).
Photos HMAT 'Borda'. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB0277
             Australian Troops marching to the front at Longueval, January 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00136
             Battle of Hamel. Australian and American troops dug in 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM  E0269
             Beaufort War Hospital Bristol. Photographer unknown, photograph source  Wikipedia

Information Source
AWM PB0277.  HMAT 'Borda'. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourceed from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00136. Australian Troops marching to the front at Longueval, January 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0269. Battle of Hamel. Australian and American troops dug in 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial 
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Alfred  William Billing
Daily News
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
National Archives Australia; 2455, Billing A W 3473
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wickipedia. Beaufort War Hospital Bristol. Photographer unknown, photograph source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_War_Hospital
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

 

8 Johnson Street, Guildford, WA and store at No 4 Johnson Street, Guildford, WA.

 

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