SAPPER WILLIAM JAMES ROBERT SHILLAM
3417 – 1st Tunnelling Company
William James Robert Shillam was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 1894 the son of John and Jane (formerly Connor) Shillam. He worked as a labourer.
At twenty-one years of age William enlisted at the Recruiting Depot in Rockhampton for active service abroad and passed the medical examination on December 28, 1915. Forms of Attestation were completed on January 17, 1916 and give personal details of height 168cms (5ft 6ins), weight 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). Fresh was his complexion with grey eyes and light brown hair. Methodist was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Jane Shillam of Corindin Street, Rockhampton and later of Norman Street, Wandal Estate, Rockhampton. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was signed and taken the same day.
Basic training commenced on January 20, 1916 at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane, Qld with the 11th Depot Battalion and finished on March 22 when he was transferred to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) and placed with the No. 4 Company to reinforce the Tunnelling Companies.
The recruits formed part of the No. 4 Company which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training. The rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3417 in No. 4 Company was assigned to him.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth and marched into Perham Down’s camp to begin training for the front.
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 arriving at the 2nd Aust General Base Depot the next day.
Sapper Shillam was taken on strength on September 30, 1916 with the 1st Tunnelling Company.
Reported sick to the 6th London Field Ambulance on December 19, 1916 suffering from Pyrexia (Fever) then sent to the 47th Divisional Rest Station and rejoined his Unit on Christmas Day, 1916.
He was wounded in action on September 14, 1917 and taken to the 19th Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his arm and transferred to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station and later to the 3rd Canadian C.C.S. He rejoined his unit on September 25, 1917.
Base Records sent this telegram to his mother:
Mrs Shillam wrote to Base Records from Norman Street, Wandal Estate, Rockhampton on October 10, 1917 inquiring on the seriousness of her son’s wounding as she had not heard any further news. Base Records replied on October 19 stating that the cable message intimated that her son had been wounded and no further particulars had come to hand. His wound was not stated to be serious and in the absence of further particulars it was assumed favourable progress had been made. Overseas authorities only notify if there is any serious change in condition. They advised where to address letters to him and noted her change of address for any future correspondence.
On October 16, 1917 he was sent to the 30th Divisional Rest Station suffering from Dental Caries and rejoined his Unit the following day.
He received Blue Chevrons for twelve months service on the front and proceeded on Leave on March 20 and returned on April 4, 1918.
Central Queensland soldiers on the Front were in contact with Mrs H.G. Wheeler working in London co-ordinating the Central Queensland Comfort Fund and each week sent report-letters naming those men she had been in contact with during the week. These were published in the Rockhampton newspapers to give relatives reliable news of their men abroad. Her address was care of the Agent-General, Queensland Office, London.
The following are extracts from her letters home published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin in which she imparts news of Sapper Shillam:
Illness of Influenza admitted him to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance on June 21, 1918 and he returned to duty four days later. Shortly after on July 24 he reported to the 13th Aust Field Ambulance and treated for scabies and discharged for duty on July 26, 1918.
Further news from Mrs Wheeler’s letters were published in the local paper:
Sapper Shillam was with his unit when Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918 and the Tunnelling Companies remained on the front as part of the army of occupation assisting with the repairing of roads and bridges.
Leave from France was granted from January 25 to February 6, 1919 and he left on January 23 and returned to duty on February 11, 1919.
His unit was recalled to the Base Depot on February 12 and they departed for England February 24, 1919 crossing the English Channel and marching into the No. 3 camp at Parkhouse.
On March 13, 1919 William James Robert Shillam, a twenty-four year old Blacksmith of Parkhouse Camp married Florence Ethel Painter, spinster aged twenty-four years of 4 Coronation Terrace, the domestic servant daughter of Joseph Painter. Vicar W.B. Yates of the Church of England St Saviour’s Church married them by licence at Weston-super-mare in Somerset.
Next-of-kin became his wife who gave her address as 4 Coronation Terrace, Drove Road, Weston-super-mare, Yorks, England.
Sapper departed for the R.B.A.A. at Heytesbury arriving at the Convalescent Camp on March 30, 1919.
On April 18, 1919 he marched into the No. 2 Group Camp at Sutton Veny.
Accompanied by his wife, Sapper Shillam departed on July 23, 1919 on board the H.T. Canberra for the voyage to Australia. On August 12 his mother was advised by Base Records that her son was returning home. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 14, 1919 and they arrived in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) two days later.
At the 6th Aust. General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Qld on September 16, 1919 he went before the medical board to which was reported he had suffered no disabilities from his war service. Recommendation was to demobilise and was referred to the Staff Officer for Invalid and Returned Soldiers for further preparations.
Military Discharge was granted on October 31, 1919 in Brisbane (1st M.D.) and he and his wife returned to Norman Street, Rockhampton. For serving his country Sapper 3417 William James Robert Shillam, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (17097) and the Victory Medal (16700).
In 1925 he was a farmer at Dalma Scrub in the Livingstone district and from 1936 and 1937 he is recorded at Weston and Lanigan Street, Rockhampton and was a council employee. By 1943 was a sanitary driver residing at Reaney Street, Rockhampton and in 1949 living at 204 Campbell Street and a sanitary employee.
The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Saturday April 5, 1952 reported the following:
Two years later his residence was 65 Lanigan Street, Rockhampton and he was a contractor.
William James Robert Shillam passed away on January 26, 1965 aged 70 years. The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Wednesday January 27, 1965 published the family notice:
© Donna Baldey 2011