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William Henry Giddy - Information

The Giddys were a large Camden family, with long ties to the community. William’s parents, George and Elizabeth Giddy resided in the Mulgoa area, where William was born on the 23rd of November 1894. He grew up in the area with his many siblings. In the 1910s, the Giddys relocated to North St in Quirindi. Here, William found work as a labourer, while serving in the 13th Infantry. In 1916, William’s cousin, John James Giddy, left for war. William followed suit enlisting in the AIF on the 1st of June 1916 in Broadmeadows, NSW. Firstly, he was made a Trooper with the Light Horse at Menangle Park and then a Private with the 20th Battalion. He was then sent abroad from Sydney on the 11th of November 1916 upon the HMAT Suevic.

The Suevic made berth in Devonport, England. William was then marched out to the 5th Training Battalion in Rollestone. On the 25th of April, he departed Folkestone for the Western Front. He was taken on strength to the 20th Battalion the following month. Later in the year, William and his unit were positioned for the Third Battle of Ypres. Here, he was wounded in action on the 9th of October, hit in the shoulder and chest. The 3rd Field Ambulance rushed him to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, and then to the 53rd General Hospital in Boulogne. The wound was very serious, so he was evacuated to England to the 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool, before being invalided to Australia on the 21st of April 1918.