5th Field Company Engineers
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William Vivian (SN 3678), born in South Australia, already had two years of military service when, as a 24 year old iron moulder he enlisted in the AIF on November 9th 1915. He embarked just three weeks later on the Ceramic first to Egypt and then on to France in March, to serve with the 5th Field Company Engineers. Tragically, his wife Mary had died while he was in Egypt. In July 1916 he suffered a shrapnel wound to his thigh but was able to rejoin his unit in September. He was wounded again, gassed, in June 1918. At the war’s end he returned to Australia aboard the Castalia reaching Melbourne on May 30th 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on July 22nd but continued his involvement in the citizen forces until he reached 60 years of age.
