Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 53B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Long Service & Good Conduct Medal | ||
Early Life :
William was part of a military family, his father having been a Colour Sergeant in the 53rd Regiment of Foot.William married Agnes Morton at St. Phillip's and St. James's Church at Whitton on 12th April 1912, when he was a Sergeant at the Royal Military School of Music.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 2/Hampshire Regiment |
2nd Battalion August 1914 : in Mhow, India. Returned to England, arriving at Plymouth 22 December 1914. Moved to Romsey and on 13 February 1915 to Stratford-upon-Avon. 13 February 1915 : attached to 88th Brigade in 29th Division. Moved to Warwick. Sailed from Avonmouth on 29 March 1915 for Gallipoli, going via Egypt. Landed at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915. January 1916 : evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt. 20 March 1916 : landed at Marseilles for service in France. |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
8795 W.O.1 (Bandmaster) William Henry Orbinski, 2nd Hampshire Regiment.
Hampshire Advertiser 18th September 1915. "MASS MEETING ON THE PIER. Mr. J.A. Seddon, ex-M.P., fresh from presiding over the Trades Union Congress at Bristol last week, was the principal speaker at a mass meeting held in the Pavilion on the Royal Pier, Southampton, on Monday evening in connection with the National Emergency Campaign of the Southampton Parliamentary Committee. There was a large attendance including a number in khaki uniform, and in the band of the Hampshire Regiment, under the direction of Bandmaster W.H. Orbinski, occupied the orchestra , and played an excellent selection of music, including the National Anthems of the Allies before the commencement of proceedings."
William was a war survivor despite being listed against the Masonic Roll of Honour (1940) Scroll. He was listed as a retired Warrant Officer, Bandmaster in 1939 and as having died aged 81.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | United Service No. 3285 E.C. | South Africa (Western) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
23rd May 1911 | 15th July 1911 | 19th August 1911 |
Listed as a Bandmaster when Initiated into United Services Lodge No. 3285 in Woodstock, 1911.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley