Private William Amos (Snr)

  Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog

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8 April 2022

Served during The Great War, resting at Belmont Cemetery, not forgotten.

Private William Amos (Snr), 9th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery (Reg No-351), miner from Aberdare Street, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales and Bellevue Road, Belmont, N.S.W. and Piriwal Street, Pelican Flats, N.S.W., father of five (Dick, Jack, Bill, Tom, Lorna), was laid to rest at Belmont Cemetery on the Saturday afternoon of the 27th August 1949, age 70. Uniting (Methodist) Old - Row B. Plot 21.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134468966 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134460534 - Bereavement Notice.

Born at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England (1879? or 27.3.1885, date inscribed on headstone indicates 1879) to William and Catherine Amos nee Blake; husband of Catherine Amos nee Taylor (married 3.8.1907, died 28.8.1937 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134959603, age 53, sleeping here), William enlisted January 1916 with the 34th Battalion at West Maitland, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123398837 - report that William had enlisted.

Admitted to hospital 25.4.1917 (sore feet).

Wounded accidentally 1.6.1917 (GSW back, abrasions).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134863138 - report that William had been wounded.

William was invalided home December 1917 with trench feet, being discharged on the 25th February 1918.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138160327 - welcome home at the King's Hall, Kurri Kurri.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123668295 - welcome home by the "Rose of Kurri" Lodge at the Kurri Kurri Congregational Hall.

Mr. Amos’s name has been inscribed on the Kurri Kurri Methodist Church Roll of Honor (photo, unveiled on the 28th November 1915, 29 names originally inscribed, 92 names now inscribed, 18 Fallen - https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/.../kurri...), Kurri Kurri-Pride of Kurri Lodge and the U.A.O. Druids Roll of Honour - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133889983, and the Kurri Kurri Rose Lodge (No. 8863) G.U.O.O.F. Roll of Honour. Unfortunately, name not inscribed on the Kurri Kurri Soldiers' Memorial.

I have placed poppies on William’s white marble headstone in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Service record states Died after Discharge, 25/8/1949.

Many thanks to William's Great Granddaughter Tracey Wilson for photos and family history.

William was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 27 March 1885. His father, also named William, was from Midlothian, Scotland and his mother Elizabeth (formerly Blake) was English, I think from the Durham area. William married Catherine Taylor on the 3th of August 1907. The following year Catherine gave birth to their first son, Thomas.

William was a coal miner and in 1910, decided to move his family to what seemed a better life and prospects in Australia. After two years of living in Australia Catherine gave birth to their second son, my Grandfather, William. William Snr. joined the Imperial Forces on the 17th January 1916, and was placed with the 34th Battalion May 1916. Before his embarkation, Catherine had fallen pregnant and gave birth to their third son John (known as Jack) in 1917. After the war, a daughter Lorna (1922) and another son Richard (1928). William moved the family to Belmont c1930s. They lived on Bellevue Rd. Unfortunately, William lost his beloved Catherine to cancer on the 28 August 1937, she was 53 years of age. He survived Catherine for 12 years, nearly to the day.

My Great Grandfather died of a cerebral haemorrhage on the 25 August 1949, aged 70 years.

Lest We Forget