born: 29 May 1898 Port MacDonnell, South Australia.
died: 1 September 1918 Mont St Quentin, France.
Parents: Ebenezer Badenoch, Rose Elizabeth Williams
Siblings: James Ebenezer, Dorothy Jean, Archibald Montgomery, Marjory Olive, Vernon Thomas, Hilda Rose.
William grew up in the Port MacDonnell area where his family operated the local grocery, butcher, and bakery shop. He actively participated in various sports in Port MacDonnell and Mount Gambier. William joined his father in the business and trained as a baker’s assistant. He was also a member of the Senior cadets and the Juvenile Order of Oddfellows.
William had yet to turn 18 years of age when he enlisted in Mount Gambier in 8th February 1916. He was initially assigned to C Company 2nd Depot Battalion and then was transferred to the 43rd Infantry Battalion in March. William departed from Outer Harbour on the troop ship Afric on 9 June 1916 for training in England arriving there on 20 July 1916. In October he was found guilty of the crime Conduct to the Prejudice in that he failed to salute an office and awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. William departed Southampton for France on 25 November 1916. He was seriously injured in June 1917 during the Battle of Messines, receiving multiple gunshot wounds to elbow nose and back. He was was evacuated back to England per the Jan Breydal arriving at the Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital Beechbourough Park on 22 June 1916 before being transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield 27 July 1917. After being discharged from hospital on 3 August 1917 he spent time convalescing at No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth and once being declared fit to return to active service within three months, William was transferred to No 4 Command Unit at Wareham on 4 September 1917. On the 15 September 1917, William was marched into the Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Downs from where he would depart for France on 9 October 1917. William re-joined the 43rd Battalion in the field on 23 October 1917 where he would remain until returning to England on leave in February 1918. William returned to France on 7 March 1918. In July 1918 his battalion was involved in the battle for Le Hamel, and it was at Mont St Quentin where he was killed in action on 1 September 1918. His body was buried 700 yards, north of the alliances but was later exhumed, with William being laid to rest in the Peronne Communal Cemetery. He was 20 years old. He is also remembered in the Lake Terrace Cemetery together with his younger brother Archie who was killed in World War II (Section D Plots 780-782)
Sources:
Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA: 1861-1954) Tuesday 17 September 1918 page 2
Register (Adelaide, SA 1901-1929), Tuesday 17 September 1918, page 6
NAA: B2455, Badenoch W J
Australian War Memorial: Roll of Honour – William Henry Badenoch
GenealogySA, On-line-database Birth Registrations: Badenoch William Henry
