Private William Edward Colenso

Service number 6283
Birth Date 1887
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Death Date 1959-11-11
Death Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank Private
Unit 18th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place Sydney
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

William Colenso was born at Sydney in 1887. A tram conductor at the time of his enlistment, Colenso served for six years with the 1st Battalion New South Wales Irish Rifle Regiment, later known as the 33rd Infantry Regiment. In 1911 Colenso married Winifred Mary Moloney and a son, William, was born in June that year, followed by sons, Francis in September 1912, and Edward in January 1915. A daughter, Winifred, was born during 1917.

Colenso enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in October 1916, and was attached to the 18th Reinforcements for the 18th Battalion. In November 1916, Colenso embarked from Sydney aboard the troopship Suevic. After arriving at Devonport, England, on 30 January 1917, the unit marched into the 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plain, England. Colenso was soon admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital suffering from a double hernia. He was discharged from hospital to duty on 21 March 1917, but in early April was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital with the same condition. At this time, he underwent an operation for the hernia on his right side; the surgeon refused to operate on the left hernia. The condition was considered to be congenital, and not due to war service. During November 1917 Colenso was assessed as permanently unfit for service abroad, or at home, and arrangements were made for his return to Australia.

On 16 January 1918, Colenso embarked from London to return to Australia aboard the troopship Corinthic. During this voyage, Colenso participated in two concerts held on board the ship on 16 and 27 February 1918. In the first concert, Colenso sang the comic song “In these hard times” and played the part of Harry Johnson in a sketch titled KIKI. In the second concert Colenso sang “Peter, Percy, and me” as a member of a trio with Corporal Trewern and Private Marshall, as well as playing the part of Timothy Mudd in the sketch titled The Village School. During this concert, he also performed the song 'Good-bye-ee' as a solo.

Colenso arrived in Australia and disembarked in March 1918. He was discharged as medically unfit on 3 April 1918.

After discharge, Colenso appears to have returned to his former occupation as a tram conductor and later advanced to tram driver for the remainder of his working life. In June 1919, a fourth son, Raymond, was born; and in October 1923 a son Reginald was born but died shortly after birth. A fifth surviving son, Leslie, was born in July 1925, and a daughter, Dorothy, in June 1929.

The four older sons – William, Francis, Edward and Raymond – all enlisted on the same day, 1 July 1940, during the Second World War and were all attached to the same battalion, the 2/18th Australian Infantry Battalion. While the battalion was in action in Singapore during February 1942, all four sons were reported missing in action. William, a lance corporal in the 2/18th, is recorded as missing, presumed killed in action. Raymond was killed in action on 9 February 1942 and is buried in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Francis and Edward were taken as prisoners of war in Singapore in February 1942, incarcerated at Changi camp, Singapore, and liberated in September 1945.

William Colenso died on 11 November 1959 at Sydney, New South Wales, aged 72.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 1887
Date of enlistment 27 October 1916
Date of embarkation 11 November 1916
Date returned to Australia 10 January 1918
Date of death 11 November 1959