REID, William James (1887- )
There is no clear enrolment record for this William James Reid. 'The Geelong College Great War Memorial Tablet' lists two individuals as 'Reid, W J', however there is only one full enrolment record for a William James Reid and no other for a W J Reid. There is a partial enrolment record with only the surname 'Reid', an entry year of 1903 and a parent, 'J Reid' of 'Arcadia Grove, Reid's Loose Bag, Kiewa'. No other W J Reid appears in the Annual Report lists. It is possible that this is the same individual as William James Reid below.
William James Reid, one of eight children, was born in 1887, the youngest son of James Reid and Isabella Auld, nee Cunningham.
He was at Tangambalanga (in the Kiewa Valley) when he enlisted (No. 1348) as a Trooper on 8 September 1915 with 9th Light Horse Regiment 3rd Light Horse Brigade (11th Reinforcements). He embarked on SS Hawkes Bay on 21 October for Egypt. He then embarked for England, where he transferred to 4th Divisional Ammunition Column, having attended a Trench Mortar School in September 1916. He embarked for France on 15 August 1917. He returned to Australia, embarking on HMT Orontes on 20 December 1918.
Sources: 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck. p290 (citing Australian War Memorial; National Archives).