GARRISON RESERVE - 35th BATTALION AIF
Private: 50849 William Henry CONNELL
Born: 9th November 1882. Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:
Married: 1918. Burwood via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:4638/1918.
Wife: Mabel Rose Connell. nee: Stone. nee: Hogan. (1898-1983)
Died: 6th June 1919. Died of Pneumonia, 1st Dermatological Hospital, Tidworth, England.
Father: Peter John Connell. (1849-1906) Died at Forbes, N.S.W.
Mother: Elizabeth Louisa Connell. nee: Clothier. (1862-1919)
INFORMATION
William Henry Connell was born at Forbes, New South Wales, Australia on 9th November, 1887 to father Henry Connell. The 1913 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Ashburnham, subdivision of Forbes, NSW recorded William Henry Connell, Groom, of Dowling Street. William Henry Connell married Mabel Rose Stone (nee Hogan) in 1918 in the district of Burwood, Sydney, NSW.
William Henry Connell was a 30 year old, married, Labourer from Forbes, NSW when he enlisted in Sydney, NSW on 14th February, 1918 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His service number was 50849 & his religion was Church of England. His next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs M. R. Connell, Parramatta Road, Burwood, Sydney,
NSW. (Note: Originally the next-of-kin was listed as his father – Henry Connell, “Wisbeach Villa”, Parkes Rd, Forbes, NSW.) Private William Henry Connell was posted to Show Ground Camp, Sydney, NSW on 18th February, 1918 for recruit training. He was transferred to Recruit M. & D. Depot at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW on 22nd February, 1918. Private Connell was transferred to “D” Company, 1st Depot Battalion on 13th March, 1918 then transferred to 1st General Service Reinforcements (NSW) on 14th March, 1918. Private William Henry Connell embarked from Sydney, NSW on RMS Osterley on 8th May, 1918 with the 1st New South Wales Reinforcements.
He was admitted to Ship’s Isolation Hospital in 12th May, 1918 while at Sea as a V.D patient & discharged from Ship’s Isolation Hospital on 10th June, 1918. Private Connell forfeited 30 day’s Pay - £7-
10-0 for a total V.D. period of 30 days. Private Connell disembarked at Liverpool, England on 10th July, 1918. Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Private William Henry Connell was marched in to 5th Training Battalion from Australia on 11th July, 1918. He was allotted to 20th Battalion Reinforcements from 11th July, 1918 whilst at 5th Training Battalion.
Private William Henry Connell was transferred to Reinforcements of 35th Battalion – 9th Training Battalion at Fovant, Wiltshire on 26th July, 1918. He was taken on strength 35th Battalion from 20th Battalion Details ex 5th Training Battalion on 26th July, 1918. Private William Henry Connell proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone on 24th October, 1918 from 9th Training Battalion, Fovant, Wiltshire. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Rouelles on 26th October, 1918 & marched to the Front on 28th October, 1918. Private Connell was taken on strength of 35th Battalion in France on 29th October, 1918.
Private William Henry Connell was sent sick to Hospital on 23rd April, 1919. He was admitted to 11th Field Ambulance on 23rd April, 1919 then transferred & admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital in France the same day with V.D. Private Connell was transferred on 23rd April, 1919 & admitted to 39th General Hospital at Havre, France on 24th April, 1919. He was transferred to England on 25th April, 1919 on Hospital Ship Panama.
Private William Henry Connell was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire, England on 28th April, 1919 with Gonorrhoea. Private William Henry Connell was transferred to Military Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire on 2nd June, 1919 with Pneumonia & was reported as dangerously & seriously ill. Private William Henry Connell died at 05.10 hrs on 6th June, 1919 at 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia. A death for William H. Connell, aged 31, was registered in the June quarter, 1919 in the district of Amesbury,
Wiltshire, England.
Grave of William Henry Connell. Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire England,
Private William Henry Connell was buried on 10th June, 1919 in Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England Plot number C. 377 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. From the burial report of Private Connell - Coffin was Elm with brass mounts.
Deceased was buried with full honours the coffin draped with the Australian flag being borne to the graveside preceded by a Firing Party from Headquarters A.I.F. Depots in United Kingdom. Six of deceased’s late Unit comrades supported the Pall. The “Last Post” was sounded and volleys fired over the grave. A number of Australians followed the remains and were present at the graveside ceremony. Headquarters, A.I.F. Depots in United Kingdom were represented at the funeral.
Private William Henry Connell requested in his Will, dated 12th April, 1918, that in the event of his death the whole of his Estate (both real and personal) be bequeathed to his wife Mrs Mabel Rose Connell, Parramatta Rd, Burwood, Sydney, NSW. Mrs Connell was also appointed Executor of his Will. Private William Henry Connell was entitled to British War Medal & the Victory Medal. A Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were also sent to Private Connell’s widow – Mrs M. R. Connell, as the closest next-of-kin. (Scroll sent August, 1922 & Plaque sent October, 1922).
Williams Victory Medal: 58566 to PTE 50849 W.H.CONNELL. 35BN A.I.F and Memorial Plaque:342869 were acquired from Noble Auctions in July 2022 and are now in the Harrower Collection. His plaque was first issued to his widow on the 26th October 1922.
Military Records
Under Construction: 25/07/2022.