Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 9th August 1918. The 8th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. 

The Action of the 9th August.

At 6am on the 9th I received information from Australian Corps that 7 Tanks were required for immediate action with the 5th Australian Infantry Division, the attack to be carried out in three phases - being dependent on an attack to be made by the Canadian Corps, South of the Amiens-Chaulnes Railway.

The objectives of the 8th Tank Battalion (a composite Company of 3 Tanks of “A” Company and 4 Tanks of “C” Company under the Command of Major J.A. Bennewith) in conjunction with the 8^th Australian Infantry Brigade was the capture of a line just W of VAUVILLERS and the high ground N and S of it.

A conference was attended at 5th Austn. Brigade HQtrs at 8.30 a.m. by myself and the OC Composite Company. The scheme was very hurriedly worked out, but the necessary liaison and cohesion with Infantry Battalions was unavoidably lacking.

Zero hour was fixed for 11am and the Tanks were assembled on the Road at W.6.c.3.8 at 10.50am and went into action at 11.5am unaccompanied by Infantry, and without Artillery Support, or preparation of any sort.

Of the 7 Tanks which went into action, 5 received direct hits and one was badly ditched, the remaining Tank rallied in Morcourt Valley; despite this the objective was successfully taken.

The casualties to personnel during this action were:–

Officers:             Killed 2 & Wounded 5
Other Ranks:     Killed 0; Wounded 17, Missing 2 & Wounded at Duty 1