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Australia

William (Bill) was the fourth son born on the 17th August, 1921 in Broken Hill an isolated city in the outback, on the New South Wales and South Australian border, an area rich in minerals, especially silver, lead and zinc. His parents were James Patrick and Ellen Elizabeth Hoare. Sadly, in 1931, when Bill was 9, his 54-year-old father died at home and was buried in the Broken Hill Roman Catholic Cemetery. James had been born at Carrieton in the Flinders Rangers of South Australia but had lived at The Hill since boyhood where he worked in the mines for many years before working on the land at Pooncarie Station. He then took over the Fowler's Gap Hotel for several years but returned to Broken Hill in early 1930. He and Elizabeth had eleven children, five boys and six girls.
Bill had a colourful early life. Working as a butcher, he was using a knife that slipped, causing a knee injury that then had to be stitched at the outpatient’ department of the hospital. Just after his 17th birthday he was caught illegally using a car as an unlicenced driver, causing damage and stealing goods. This was followed the next year by being receiving a kick to his head from a donkey during a performance of the visiting Milo Circus. A further stint in hospital was necessary to treat the resultant concussion and lacerations. The older brothers followed in their father’s footsteps, working as farm hands on stations once they had left school. Their work meant that they were who often out droving with stock from nearby stations.
With the outbreak of WWII, active campaigning for young men, particularly single men from country areas meant that Broken Hill was an ideal recruiting ground. A report from the ‘Barrier Miner’ in November ’39 reported that ‘Recruiting reopened today, and in the morning session 10 men were accepted. None were objected to because of man power restrictions, and one man was rejected because he was under the required height—5ft. 6in.’
By July the following year, three of William’s older brothers, 25-year-old John Nye, 24-year-old George Francis and 21-year-old Patrick, had enlisted of seven local young men. Tellingly, the ‘Barrier Miner’ that month added that ‘A fourth and younger son who filled in his papers last night, could not obtain his parent's consent today. He was the fifth member of the Hoare family to apply for enlistment. Another brother made application to join the 2/8th Field Ambulance, but was rejected because he was medically unfit’. However, by the 5th July, William had successfully managed to convince Ellen that he could enlist. By the 8th July the four brothers were on the train for Adelaide for their second medical before going into camp for training. They made up half of the eight-man contingent.
Officially the brothers enlisted on the 10th July, 1940 at Wayville in South Australia and were allocated successive numbers, John SX8467, Patrick SX8468, William Howard SX8469, and George SX8470 and all were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Following training in the bleak conditions of Woodside, by the end of the month young Patrick was back home in the Broken Hill hospital as part of his leave allocation, but being treated for pneumonia with three other fellow enlistees. He did recover and was soon back with his Battalion.
A beautifully written piece was published in the ‘Barrier Miner’ at the end of October ’40: ‘Touching Scene "The, widow's son"--A phrase which at the very dawn of the Christian era evoked sympathy but how much more poignant the little scene at the railway station on Wednesday night when a widow said goodbye to four of her sons, who belong to the A.I.F. A fifth son had enlisted, but had been rejected. The mother was Mrs. J. Hoare, and her sons, Messrs.- Jack, George, Pat and Bill Hoare. While on leave a party was arranged in their honor by their aunt, Mrs. J. Howley, and about 40 other members of the fighting forces on leave in Broken Hill were also invited to the function, together with their relatives and friends. In all about 300 people attended Tait's Masonic Hall, which had been loaned by Mrs Dearlove. The hall was beflagged, and when the party broke up, resounded to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne."’
The brothers left on the ‘Stratheden’ heading for the Middle East, arriving on the 17th November ’40. Their fate in Tobruk and beyond was yet to be written. The brothers came to be known as the ‘Four musketeers from Broken Hill’ who wrote regularly to their mother, with their photo and a thank you published in the ‘Barrier Miner’ in March ’41 stating that ‘Word has been received from the four musketeers of Broken Hill (pictured above)-George, Jack. Bill, and Joe Hoare-who are overseas on service with the A.I.F. The Hoare brothers were members of a party of drovers who enlisted in a body at the local recruiting depot last year. Another brother also enlisted, but was rejected as medically unfit. In a letter to their parents they state they have been getting many gifts from the Comforts Fund, and cannot understand the criticism that has been levelled at this fund by returning men. They mention they have seen "Gidder" Castle, who has been sent from England, and Jack Toohey.’
Back home, any news of the men overseas was shared through the local newspapers. A letter from Pte. Cal Howely was published in June ’41 with the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ reporting ‘his friends will be glad to know that he has been in action and in the best of health. Cal was one of the first local boys to enlist, and one of the first to go overseas. He was very happy to encounter the four Hoare boys, who are cousins of his, a few days before he wrote the letter, and he also wished to be remembered to his friends at home.’ Another local, Private Collin Campbell, also serving in the Middle East reported: 'Things are very tough out here in the desert. The dust storms are ten times worse than in Broken Hill and they blow for days and days at a time. The din of bombing and shell fire, and machine gun fire are terrific at times.’ This was Tobruk and the makings of the Rats of Tobruk.
Bill learned of the death of his 22-year-old brother Patrick, killed on the 25th October, ’42 in Egypt in the fierce fighting undertaken by the Allieds to capture Trig 29. Charles Holman (SX13570), also from Broken Hill, who enlisted at a similar time, was killed in the same offensive. The 2/48th Battalion experienced a number of casualties. In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John Glenn described that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone nine of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. ’Patrols of both sides were active; a number of clashes occurred in No Man’s Land. In the early hours of the morning a strong enemy patrol, led by a German officer, approached the left flank of D Company; there they came under the fire of Pat Hoare’s Bren gun. The officer soon fell, whereupon the patrol withdrew, carrying their wounded.’
‘At last light on the same front some three hundred enemy troops attacked, and D Company area was swept by small arms fire. During the action Private Pat Hoare was killed and Lance-Corporal Henry Lohmann was so badly hit that he died soon after.’
The Barrier Miner on the 11th November ’42 carried the news of Patrick and Charles’s deaths. ‘PRIVATE Patrick Hoare (23), son of Mrs. J. Hoare, of Lane, and the late Mr. J. Hoare, has been reported killed in action in Egypt. Pte. Charles Holman; of Marks Street, has also been reported killed in action in Egypt. These casualties were announced today. Pte. Hoare is one of four brothers who enlisted together in Broken Hill. and have been abroad for two years. The other brothers are Ptes. Jack, George and William Hoare. A fourth brother, Mr. J. W. Hoare, who is prominent in A.R.P. circles, was rejected by the A.I.F. Mrs. Hoare was notified in a tele-gram this morning. As the telegram delivery boy left her home she called to her daughter, "I have another cable; come and hear the news." She received a severe shock to read the tragic news. The four brothers, who have been together right through their A.I.F. service, have been in the habit of cabling once a week stating that they were well. Pte. Patrick Hoare was 23 years of age. He was born in Broken Hill. The four brothers in the A.I.F. had all been engaged on station work.’ The Barrier Daily Truth further explained that they had missed cabling home ‘owing to their being in action. It was a shock for the Hoare family to find that instead of a further cable from the boys, the telegram told of the death of one of them.
By February ’43 the boys’ mother, Ellen had received a cable that two of her boys were back in Australia after their service in the Middle East. The ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ recorded that Mrs. E. Hoare, of Lone Lane, who had word from her sons, Pte. Jack and Pte. Bill Hoare after two years and three months of active service. ‘Mrs. Hoare is still hopeful that she will have news of the return of her eldest son. Her four boys all served together overseas. One lost his life in action a few months ago, but the other three have been together until recently, to the best of her belief.’ In reality, John had already left the Middle East and arrived back in Melbourne on the 25th February. Unfortunately, he sustained a broken left ankle over the weekend in April so had an uncomfortable time for his much-anticipated leave back in Broken Hill.
Preparation for service in a totally different war then followed with training in Queensland before travelling from Cairns to serve in New Guinea. Inevitably, jungle conditions played havoc with the men’s health with many contracting Dengue fever then Malaria. Bill John’s return was shared by the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ which announced “Ptes. Jack and Bill Hoare, AIF returned, have returned to their home in Lone Lane after service in New Guinea. They are two of the four Hoare brothers who were amongst Broken Hill's earliest volunteers. All four fought in the Middle East, where one was killed in action. Another (George) has been discharged from the Army since his return to Australia.’
Back home in ’44, a pamphlet was sponsored by the Lady Mayoress, appealing for whole hearted support of the First Victory Loan. It contained messages from six local Broken Hill women all closely connected with the war effort who well appreciated the constant need for money to end the war as quickly as possible. Each woman was chosen because of her connection with some particular branch of war service. The ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ explained that ‘no-one has a closer link with the AIF than Mrs. E. E. Hoare. of 636 Lane Lane, Broken Hill is proud of her four sons who enlisted early in the war.’ She and the other five women were congratulated on their ‘stirring and personal method of approach to Broken Hill women…so that ‘ millions like them will live in a peaceful world once more.’
Bill’s army service was not without incident with him facing court martials in July ’43, January ‘44 and again in April ’45. He was finally discharged in September ’45. He then worked as a tractor driver on Connulpie Station, Tibooburra but a year later was embroiled in a court case where, while having a drink with his brother, George, he was erroneously charged with stealing £6/10/ from the Hotel Tibooburra till. The case revolved around a torn 10/- and £1 note and a confession to the stealing by another patron, who was drunk at the time. To attend the Court hearing, Bill rode 43 miles into town on horseback. Fortunately Bill’s lawyer was able to argue ‘that the doctrine of recent possession did not apply because notes were currency, and by their very nature passed from hand to hand, and as the evidence showed the defendant and the others in the bar tendered notes for drinks, and received notes and silver in change, the presence of some of the notes, and the presence of the torn £1 note and the torn 10/- note did not raise an inference of guilt, nor was the defendant called on to explain their presence because in the natural course of trading the notes could get into defendant's possession.’ Fortunately for Bill, the conclusion was that there was ‘no evidence of any motive, any necessity to steal as it is clear that defendant had money and his money had not run out’ and the case was dismissed.
In November that year a large Armistice Celebration was held at the Broken Hill Soldiers’ Memorial. It was the first ceremony held at the Fallen Soldiers' clock to celebrate the first Armistice of World War ll. A huge number of returned servicemen from both wars attended with floral tributes from both public and private citizens being laid. The ‘Barrier Miner’ reported that there were wreaths ‘In memory of Pte. Pat Hoare, killed in action at El Alamein, October 25, 1943, ever remembered by his loving mother, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers, and brothers-in-law; In memory of Pte. Roy Toohey, killed in action at Tarakan on May 6, 1945 ever remembered by Mrs. E. Hoare and family; In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. William O'Reilly, killed in action on Bougainville, July, 1945, ever remembered by his loving mother, father, sister and brothers; Loving memory of Pte. A. R. Wright, killed in action, Palestine, Nov. 6, 1917, and Pte. J. D. (Snowy) Wright (10th Batt.), died November 6, 1927, from loving sister and brother-in-law (Mrs. and Mr. R. Goudie).
As so many Broken Hill young men had enlisted to serve, Anzac Day celebrations were always a poignant tribute to the fallen of both World Wars. The ’47 Dawn service was described in the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’. ‘Just before dawn groups of men standing near the Soldiers Hostel formed up and marched to the war memorial; past the crowd of silent citizens where they gathered as 'Stand To' and then the 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' were played by Bugler J. Keenen, as the first streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern sky. The impressive short ceremony was pregnant with meaning and the spirit of Anzac as the long dead comrades and friends came to mind. No one but felt the deep solemnity of this occasion, the 32nd Anzac Day. By daylight the Memorial presented a beautiful sight bedecked with the numbers of wreaths from relatives and friends.’ Wreaths were laid for the two friends in the 2/48th Battalion, killed at the same time – John’s brother, Private Patrick Hoare and L/Cpl Charles Holman with each wreath being from their family and friends. They were not forgotten.
More controversy followed Bill in ’49 who was then back working as a station hand. He was again before the court charged with having maliciously attempted to set fire to the Tibooburra Hotel and allegedly had threatened "I was going to burn the pub down because they would not give me a bottle of beer." In quite unusual circumstances, Bill was also accused of having burnt two bedspreads and set fire to bed matting. Bill was allowed bail and the case dragged on into the following year but the judge finally advised that Bill’s criminal intention was not evident and the jury acquitted him of the charges.
Bill lived to be 59 and died on the 14th January 1981 aged 59. He is buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery as are so many of his extended family.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.