We miss him most, who loved him best

When Christina Ingham’s two eldest sons enlisted in 1915, she was solely supporting her other 6 children, with one more due that year.

Private William John Ingham #2397 - 9th & 49th Infantry Battalions

Private Benjamin Joseph Ingham #4552 - 15th & 47th Infantry Battalions

The two brothers eventually found each other in Cairo in May 1916, and William wrote to his mother saying he tried to have his brother assigned to the same battalion, but Ben was quite happy with the group of men with whom he had already shared so much with.

William kept a diary of his activities with the 49th Battalion from January 1916 and his entry for 8 August notes the casualties for that day.

While Ben continued to convalesce in England, William remained with his Battalion through the notorious winter of 1916/17 and continued to write home.

In February 1917 as Ben was waiting to be repatriated home, William was severely wounded in the front line at Flers and died at the 45th Casualty Clearing Station.

Original grave of Private William Ingham

Further reading:

• NAA: Ingham, William John, 9th & 49th Infantry Battalions
• NAA: Ingham, Benjamin Joseph, 15th & 47th Infantry Battalions
• AWM: Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files
• AWM: Unit Diary, 47th Infantry Battalion, August 1916
• AWM: Unit Diary, 49th Infantry Battalion, August 1916
• 29901 William and Benjamin Ingham Papers 1915-1921