William Allan Luther PHILPOT / PHILPOTT
Per his military service record (regimental no. 5164), William Allan Luther Philpot was born at Ashfield, N.S.W. (He signed his name as W. A. L. Philpott). He gave his age as 19 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as carter. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 120 lbs., with a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Congregational. He claimed that he had no previous military service, and that he had been rejected for the AIF in the past.
He completed his medical examination, and was attested by Lieutenant F. Middenway, at Ashfield on 11th November 1915, where the Coo-ees held a recruitment meeting, and stayed in the Drill Hall that evening.
After the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 4th January 1916 Private Philpot was transferred from B Company to D Company in the 13th Battalion.
On 3rd February 1916 Private Philpot was charged with being absent from parade without leave. He was fined 1 days pay.
On 2nd March 1916 he was again charged with being absent without leave, and fined 1 days pay.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Morwin Street, Canberbury, Sydney, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs M. A. Philpot, at the same address.
Private Philpot (along with fellow Coo-ees Private William Griffiths and Robert Hickey) departed Sydney on the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria A16 on 31st March 1916, as 16th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion. They arrived in Egypt on 8th May 1916.
After further training with the 4th Training Battalion, Private Philpot was taken on strength of the 13th Battalion at Serapeum on 28th May 1916.
On 1st June 1916 Private Philpot left Alexandria aboard the Transport Transylvania bound for France, and arrived at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.
On 1st July 1916 the 13th Battalion was manning the front line at White City post in the vicinity of Bois-Grenier in France. Private Philpot was wounded in action during a German bombardment, and was evacuated suffering shell shock.
He was moved back to the 14th General Hospital, being admitted on 13th July 1916. On 14th July 1916 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship St Dennis at Boulogne, for evacuation to England.
He was admitted to the Northumberland War Hospital at Gosforth in England on 15th July 1916.
On 31st July 1916 he was transferred to the Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital at Epsom in England.
On 10th September 1916 he was discharged and sent to the Number 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs, England.
On 14th September 1916 Private Philpot was granted leave to report back to the Depot at Pernham Downs on 6th October 1916.
On 31st October 1916 Private Philpot was admitted to the Dehli Hospital at Pernham Downs suffering from Influenza.
On 29th November 1916 he was transferred to the Red Cross Hospital at Hungerford in England. He was discharged and sent back to the Number 1 Command Depot on 4th January 1917.
On 27th January 1917 Private Philpot was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital, suffering from an unknown illness. He was discharged and sent back to the Number 1 Command Depot on 5th March 1917.
On 14th March 1917 Private Philpot was admitted sick to Dehli Hospital at Pernham Downs, and returned to his unit the next day.
On 23rd March 1917 Private Philpot was transferred to the newly formed 61st Battalion at Wareham in England.
On 21st April 1917 he was transferred back to the 13th Battalion and Number 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs, England.
On 12th May 1917 Private Philpot marched into Number 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs, England.
On 27th May 1917 Private Philpot was transferred to the 69th Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps at South Carlton in Lincolnshire.
On 24th August 1917 3rd A.M. [Air Mechanic 3rd Class] Philpot departed England for France. He disembarked at Le Harve in France on 25th August 1917.
Soon after his arrival in France, on 28th August 1917 3rd A.M. Philpot was admitted to hospital sick. He was discharged from hospital on 20th September 1917, and joined the 69th Squadron, which had recently relocated to Savy in France.
On 17th October 1917 3rd A.M. Philpot was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville in France, suffering from D.A.H. otitis.
On 20th October 1917 he was placed aboard the 32nd Ambulance Train, and on 21st October 1917 he was placed aboard a Hospital Ship for evacuation to England with otitis media. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital later that same day.
On 22nd December 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, England.
On 2nd January 1918 he was granted leave to report to the Number 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott in England on 16th January 1918.
On 19th February 1918 Private Philpot was transferred to the Number 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
On 12th March 1918 Private Philpot commenced his return to Australia, and departed England aboard the Transport Kenilworth Castle. He transferred to the H.M.A.T. Field Marshall, and departed Durban in South Africa on 28th April 1918, and arrived in Australia on 23rd May 1918.
He was discharged Medically Unfit on 21st August 1918.
1915 Coo-ee March 