Tickell, Windsor Hallows
2449 Corporal Windsor Hallows Tickell - 43rd Battalion AIF
Windsor Hallows Tickell was born in South Melbourne Victoria on the 1st July 1883 to Windsor and Susannah Tickell. He had five siblings, Eileen (1885), Gladys (1889), Dorothy (1891), Charlotte (1895) and Arthur (1901).
The family came over to Western Australia while Windsor was still young in 1900 and took up residence in Fremantle, residing in 9 Bateman Street.
After leaving school Windsor took up work as a clerk, later becoming an accountant. He was also a member of the Fremantle Golf Club and Fremantle Tennis Club.
On the 16th February 1916 Windsor enlisted into the AIF. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 130lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment Windsor was sent to No.53 Training Depot at Blackboy Hill Camp. He was taken through the basics of infantry work as this camp. On the 4th April 1916 he was then assigned to the 13th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion.
However, after a month with this group Windsor applied to join the NCO school and was accepted. He then stayed at the Non-Commissioned Officers School until the 6th of June 1916.
He was then appointed a Corporal and was posted to No.68 Training Depot. It appears this was to see how Windsor went as a NCO. On the 21st June he was assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He remained with thus group until the 5th September 1916 and was then transferred to the 10th Reinforcements to the 32nd Battalion.
Windsor was with this group for over a month but on the 17th October 1916 he was again transferred, this time to the 4th Reinforcements to the 43rd Battalion AIF.
On the 30th October 1916 Windsor travelled with this group to Fremantle Harbour where he boarded the transport ship HMAT Port Melbourne and set sail for England. After the long sea voyage they reached Devonport on the 28th December 1916.
After being disembarked Windsor and his group were then sent to the 11th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. It appears that on arrival Windsor was taken on strength of the staff at the 11th Training Battalion as he remained there till October 1917.
Windsor was taken on strength of the 43rd Battalion in Belgium on the 11th October 1917. He served with them at Passchendaele through October and November 1917.
On the 27th December 1917 Windsor was sent to the 11th Brigade NCO School and rejoined the 43rd Battalion on the 20th January 1918.
From January to March 1918, the 43rd Battalion were helping to hold the front line between Ypres and Messines.
On the 8th March 1918, Windsor was given a period of furlough to England, returning on the 1st April 1918. While he was away in England, the Germans had broken through the British front line and the 43rd Battalion had been moved south to the Somme.
Through April to June 1918 the 43rd Battalion would be in the Somme River and Villers-Bretonneux sector.
On the 21st May 1918 Windsor came down ill and was sent to the Field Ambulance where he was diagnosed as suffering from trench fever. Windsor returned on the 29th May 1918.
On his return he was promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant and on the 8th June was sent to the 11th Brigade Gas School, returning after a few days.
On the 4th July 1918 Windsor took part in the successful capture of Hamel and came through this attack safely.
From August 8th 1918 the 43rd Battalion took part in the advance from Villers-Bretonneux. They successfully took their objectives and the Germans were retreating, with the Australians continually pressing them.
The 43rd Battalion were in action constantly and by the 1st September were in action north of Clery. Windsor was shot in the head during the 43rd Battalion action. He was taken for medical aid to the 29th Field Ambulance, and from there to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station.
Windsor was then put on an ambulance train to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. He was in this hospital for seventeen days and was then shipped to England. On arrival Windsor was admitted to the South African Hospital at Richmond Park Surrey.
Windsor remained in the South African Hospital until the 24th October 1918. He was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He would be in this hospital while waiting to be assigned a hospital ship home.
On the 5th January 1919 Windsor was put aboard the hospital ship Kanowna and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 20th February 1919.
On arrival back in Fremantle Windsor was admitted to No.8 Australian General Hospital at South Terrace Fremantle. The wound to his skull had been causing defective vision and he had been having fits after his skull surgery.
On the 4th December 1919 Windsor was discharged from the AIF.
It took a while on recovery but Windsor finally was able to resume his prewar career of accountancy and was working as an auditor clerk. He was living at 9 Bateman Street Fremantle until the late 1920' he moved to 188 Claremont Avenue Claremont
Windsor was working in High Street Fremantle but was living at 188 Stirling Highway Claremont through to the 1940's. He was also the auditor for Fremantle Council and the St John Ambulance Association.
When World War Two broke out Windsor offered his services again. He was accepted for service and given the service number W66984. He was assigned to No.1 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.
On the 12th June 1950 at Hollywood Hospital Windsor passed away aged 66. Windsor had been active in the Community, being a member of St John's Church vestry, Fremantle Legacy Club, Fremantle Rotary Club, The Commercial Travellers Association Club, The Fremantle Lawn Tennis Association and Fremantle District Cricket Club.
Windsor was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot ANGLICAN MON A 0403.