WEYMOUTH, William Albert

WEYMOUTH, William Albert – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 4558
RANK : Lance Sergeant
UNIT : 9th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 21/08/1915
AGE : 19
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Yelarbon, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Echura, Victoria
RELIGION : Methodist
OCCUPATION : Farm Hand
DATE OF DEATH : 2/07/1952
PLACE OF BURIAL : Mt Thompson, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial

View Veteran’s Service File : WEYMOUTH, William Ablert

NOTES :  William Allbert Weymouth, known as Will to his friends during the First World War, then as Bill later in life, was the eldest child to Albert Weymouth and Clara Weymouth (nee Turner). Two of his first cousins also served (Albert Turner, Frank Turner) and Reg McAuliffe was his brother-in-law; Reg married Will’s younger sister, Mabel Weymouth. Clara Turner’s second husband (Will’s stepfather), Ernest John (EJ) Vigar, was instrumental in selecting land at Yelarbon, along with Colin Cameron (brother of Yelarbon soldiers Ron and Herb Cameron).

Will enlisted at Yelarbon on 21 August 1915. His next-of-kin was his mother Clara Vigar, and the address was “The Grove”, Yelarbon. At the time of enlistment, Will was either 19 or 20 years old, and gave his occupation as farm hand. Will was 5 ft. 10 ½ in tall, and weighed 120 lbs. (~55kg). He had grey eyes and black hair.

Will embarked from Australia at Sydney on the HMAT Star of Victoria, on 31 March 1916. He was taken on strength by the 25th Battalion with the 11th reinforcements on 8 August 1916, along with his cousin Frank Turner. Will was wounded in action on 14 November 1916 at Flers in France, and then again on 5 February 1917, near Fricourt. He was admitted to hospital sick with influenza on 20 April 1917, re-joining his unit on 21 June. Will was promoted to Corporal on 16 October 2017, and was attached to multiple Training Battalions from November 1917 to April 1918.

Will transferred from 25th Battalion to 9th Battalion on 6 October 1918. After the Armistice, Will was promoted to Lance Sergeant on 16 November 1918, and served as the acting Company Sergeant Major at the Australian Infantry Base Depot in April 1919. He returned to Australia with the 9th Battalion on 12 July 1919, at his substantive rank – Lance Sergeant.

Will Weymouth lived at The Grove, Yelarbon after the war. He died in 1952, aged 56.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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