William Edward Rickard was born in Ballarat and was a Motor Mechanic by trade when he enlisted in the 8th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement on 20 July 1915 at the age of 19. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 January 1916. In April he was transferred to the 58th Battalion and in June he moved to France. He was wounded on July 15th, suffering shell shock, and admitted to hospital at Calais. This injury may have been fortuitous because he missed the tragic charge at Fromelles, a few days later, where his battalion suffered very heavy losses. He returned to his battalion but on November 30th 1916 he was wounded for a second time. Her sustained a severe gunshot wound to his left knee and was evacuated to the Graylingwell War Hospital at Chichester in England. He was then returned to Australia on the Ayrshire, æmedically unfit - removal of patella', disembarking at Melbourne on July 17th 1917.
Tree No. 1706