William Donald BAYSWATER #743

William BAYSWATER, 3rd Machine Gun Battalion

William 'Bill' Donald Bayswater was born in Sydney in 1901 and at the time of enlistment in June 1917, at just age 15, stated he was working as a blacksmith in Lismore. Like many recruits from northern NSW he completed his initial training at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane where he had his photograph taken. William was transferred to the Machine Gun Depot, and completed additional training at Seymour, in Victoria.

Before he embarked for service overseas he had been admitted to hospital in the military camp with Influenza and the symptoms of Catarrh, being returned to light duties after his discharge. While onboard HMAT Indarra in November 1917 he became ill again with influenza and also measles and was admitted to the 79th General Hospital, in Taranto, Italy.

Following his recovery he was transferred to the training battalions in Codford and Parkhouse camps in England, but was not considered well enough to take part in any active service in the front lines.

Private Bayswater returned to Australia 24 October 1919 on board the Euripedes and was discharged in November. Bayswater married Eileen Valerie Southwell in 1921 and the next year saw the birth of their only child William Donald jnr. William snr was an employee of the NSW Railways for many years; he died at the early age of 41, in March 1941.

William Bayswater jnr. served in the Second World War with the 2/23rd Infantry Battalion #NX68454.

Read more ...

• SERVICE RECORD: BAYSWATER, William Donald
• EMBARKATION ROLL: 13th Reinforcements, 3rd Machine Gun Battalion
• ‘Served at 15’ Cumberland Argus and Fruitgowers Advocate 2 April 1941 p2

The information in this blog post has been researched by State Library staff and volunteers, it is based on available information at this time. If you have more information that you would like to share or further research uncovers new findings, this post will be updated.