William Ayling

Story:
William Ayling was born in Buckhorn Weston, Dorset, in 1883 and baptised there on 30 Dec 1883 the son of Thomas Ayling and Henrietta Ayling (nee Hine).  He lived his early life in Buckhorn Weston and Kington Magna, Dorset.   He emigrated on 26 May 1911 and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 10 Jul 1911.   He married Letty Hill in Perth, Western Australia, on 26 Aug 1914.   He enlisted on 31 Jan 1916 and joined the 9/51st Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force as a Private (Service No. 3347).  (It is noted on his enlistment papers that he had previous territorial experience with the 4th Battalion of the Hampshire Volunteer Regiment in the UK.)  He was posted to France and Flanders where he was killed in action on 14 Oct 1917.  He was originally buried at the Broadsands Cemetery but later re-interred in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, West Flanders, Belgium. (Grave Ref: XIV. A. 1.).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He is remembered on the Kington Magna, Dorset, War Memorial.  (NB:  His name also appears on the Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, War Memorial on a plaque thought to have come from Kington Magna.)