Pte
William Robert Sim
Information about birth
|
Year of birth: 1891 |
|
Place of birth: Mitchell, Queensland, Australia |
General information
|
Profession: Accountant |
Army information
|
Country: Australia |
|
Force: Australian Imperial Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 6634 |
|
Enlistment date: 25/09/1916 |
|
Enlistment place: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
|
Units: — Australian Infantry, 50th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 18/10/1917 |
|
Place of death: Broodseinde, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 26 |
Memorial
|
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 29 N |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private William Robert Sim was born in 1891 in Mitchell, Queensland, Australia as second child of
George and Christina Sim. He and his brother Arthur took a keen interest in sport, especially cricket, and were members of the Bowden Cricket Club for several years. Prior to enlisting William worked as an accountant.
He joined the Australian Forces on 25th September 1916 together with his younger brother Arthur
John. After training in England, he joined the 50th Battalion A.I.F., part of the 13th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division. His battalion took part in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Mid October 1917 the 50th Battalion took over the front near Broodseinde Ridge. Although there were no major attacks, the German artillery was constant shelling their positions. According to the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, on 18 October 1917 William Robert Sim and his brother were killed outright during the night by a gas shell landing in their dug-out. They were buried at the Military Cemetery near Broodseinde Ridge only a few yards of where they fell (D.23.c.3.5.). After the war their grave could not be located or their bodies not identified. They are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, panel 29 N.
George and Christina Sim. He and his brother Arthur took a keen interest in sport, especially cricket, and were members of the Bowden Cricket Club for several years. Prior to enlisting William worked as an accountant.
He joined the Australian Forces on 25th September 1916 together with his younger brother Arthur
John. After training in England, he joined the 50th Battalion A.I.F., part of the 13th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division. His battalion took part in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. Mid October 1917 the 50th Battalion took over the front near Broodseinde Ridge. Although there were no major attacks, the German artillery was constant shelling their positions. According to the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, on 18 October 1917 William Robert Sim and his brother were killed outright during the night by a gas shell landing in their dug-out. They were buried at the Military Cemetery near Broodseinde Ridge only a few yards of where they fell (D.23.c.3.5.). After the war their grave could not be located or their bodies not identified. They are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, panel 29 N.
Connection to other soldiers 1
|
Arthur John Sim
Brother |
Sources 7
|
Aif project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=274731 Sources used |
|
AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Sim&people_service_number=6634&people_unit= Sources used |
|
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1601093/WILLIAM%20ROBERT%20SIM/ Sources used |
|
Photograph https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/229166215?keyword=Sim%20William%206634 Sources used |
|
Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8083870 Sources used |
|
The Long long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/4th-australian-division/ Sources used |
|
War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1345877 Sources used |