VARRIE William

William Varrie was born 1892 Brisbane, to parents Andrew John Varrie and Ellen Jane Boyd. He had 5 brothers and sisters, Robert, James, Andrew, Ellen and Elizabeth of which he was the youngest.

William enlisted in the AIF on 16 May 1916 and issued with the Service Number 6165 in the 22nd Battalion, which became part of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division, at the age of 23 years and 11 months. His trade was listed as a Farm Hand and marital status as Single. His next of kin was his sister Elizabeth Varrie.

William embarked at Sydney on the ship "Argyllshire" on 30 October 1916. 15 March 1917 they proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone. 16 March 1917 in from England and on 19 March 1917 marched out to the unit. On the 14 July 1917 Varrie was charged with "Throwing lighted cordite in the lines", his field punishment was 3 days pay.

On 4-10 October 1917 William proved himself to be an invaluable runner for his battalion, he was wounded in action and subsequently recommended for the Military Medal,1st Anzac Corps.

10 October 1917, Varrie was wounded in action in the field with a shrapnel wound to the upper lip, he was admitted to Graylinwell Hospital in Chichester 12 October 1917 on the hospital war ship St Andrew. 10 January 1918, William Varrie was transferred to training brigade Sandhill Camp Longbridge Deverill via Southhampton and then rejoined his unit in France 27 January 1918. On 24 July 1918 he was admitted to 41st Stationary Hospital after being gassed for the second time. 27 September 1918 Varrie was discharged from hospital and on 30 September 1918 he rejoined the 22nd battalion. Varrie was gassed on several occasions and taken to Abbieville and Havre also. William had leave in UK from 18 Jan 1919 to 01 Feb 1919 and rejoined his unit Havre.

He returned to Australia 17 July 1919 on the ship Chemnitz. He was discharged 25 October 1919 and took up a Beerburrum Soldier Settlement Block No. 592, Lot No. 713.

Varrie married Elanor Blanch Wilcox in 1926 in Queensland. He died 1974 also in Queensland.

• Broodseinde
• Somme
• Western Front

extra information added by Administrators of Adopt a Digger