Published 2 October 2018

William Henry Fleming

William Henry Fleming, from Glenaroua via High Camp, Service No 22391, enlisted in Melbourne on February 14, 1916, the same day as Paul Fleming, also of Glenaroua but no relation. William had prior experience in Civilian Militia from 1907 to 1911.

William was born in the Parish of Dalhousie near the town of Tallarook, in 1882, the son of James and Bridget Fleming. When he enlisted, he said he was 32 years old, single and worked as a driver, although in his earlier application to a Recruitment Officer in Pyalong, he said he was a farmer. William gave his mother Mrs B. McGahan as next of kin, and her address as Glenaroua Post Office via High Camp.  William’s father, James Kinloch Fleming, died in November 1884 and Bridget married James McGahan in 1885 when William was 3 years old. William’s half brother, Thomas James McGahan, was born in 1886.

William enlisted in the 93rd Infantry Battalion and embarked from Melbourne on May 20, 1916, on board HMAT Medic, bound for England. On the Embarkation Roll, William is listed with the 23rd Howitzer Brigade, 109th Battery and on the Nominal Roll as 3rd Australian Divisional Ammunition Column. His rank was Bombardier, which in the Artillery was equivalent to Corporal.

On November 24, 1916, William embarked for France. In December, 1916, he was admitted to a field hospital with mumps. On July 19, 1917, he sustained a fractured fibula, later embarked for England on the hospital ship, St. Denis, and was admitted to Frensham Hall Military Hospital.

After returning to duty in England, William suffered from severe bronchitis, spending time in hospital, and he returned to Australia on December 21, 1917, on HT Persic, being listed as Casualty – Bronchitis. He was officially discharged from the Army in Melbourne on March 16, 1918.

William was present at a welcome home function in Glenaroua for Private Paul Fleming. The Kilmore Free Press of November 7, 1918 reported that “Bombardier Wm H. Fleming also took advantage of the occasion to thank the Glenaroua people for the splendid and liberal manner in which the returned men were being received.”

William was awarded the 1914/1918 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and his name was recorded on the Honour Roll at the Glenaroua State School and the Pyalong Shire Honour Roll. William died in Caulfield in 1942, aged 60.