Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Graham Lyall Halliday

Born: 15 September 1919, Auburn, South Australia

Died: 21 June 1994, Victoria, Australia (aged 74)

Buried: Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Garden of No Distant Place, September, Date 15

Service Number: S110640

Rank: Corporal

Service: Australian Military Forces (WWII)

Early Life and Family

Graham Lyall Halliday was born on 15 September 1919 in Auburn, South Australia. He was the son of Thomas King Halliday, a farmer, and Harriett Ann Halliday (née Foster). Graham grew up in Auburn in the Clare Valley region and was raised in a religious household affiliated with the Church of England. He began working as a lithography apprentice prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Military Service

Graham enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 22 February 1940 at Kensington, South Australia. He officially began full-time war service on 14 September 1942, aged 22.

He served in a variety of logistical and administrative roles throughout the war. His records show he was:

Initially posted to 3 Training Battalion (3 T.B.)
Later served with the 2nd Base Postal Unit, and attached to North Force in Darwin
Promoted to Corporal
Reassigned multiple times within postal and logistics units in the Northern Territory and South Australia
He was praised for maintaining good conduct and military discipline throughout his service, and his war service included:

1381 days of active full-time duty
Operational service in Northern Territory (Darwin)
No overseas service outside Australia was recorded
He was awarded the War Badge No. A919236, signifying his honourable discharge and contribution to the war effort.

Demobilisation and Discharge

Graham was discharged from the Australian Army on 25 June 1946. His demobilisation priority rating was calculated at 116 points, factoring in his 37 months of service, his age at enlistment (21), and his marital status. His military file notes that he requested discharge in the state of South Australia.

Marriage and Civilian Life

Graham married Daphne Mavin Ryan on 27 September 1941 at Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide. At the time of their marriage, Graham was 22 and Daphne was 18. Daphne was the daughter of Frank Ryan. Their marriage was short-lived, however, and ended in divorce on 12 August 1947 on the grounds of desertion.

After the war, Graham returned to civilian life and resumed work in the printing industry. His trade as a lithographer remained a key part of his identity and career.

Later Years and Death

Later in life, Graham moved to Victoria, where he lived until his death. He passed away on 21 June 1994, aged 74. He was laid to rest in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, one of Victoria's most tranquil and significant cemeteries. His final resting place is in the Garden of No Distant Place.

Legacy

Graham Lyall Halliday served his country faithfully during a time of great global conflict. Though much of his service was conducted on home soil, his contributions to logistics and communication were vital to the functioning of Australia's wartime efforts. He is remembered with honour for his commitment, discipline, and service.

Sources

National Archives of Australia – Service Dossier for S110640 Graham Lyall Halliday
South Australian Births Index, 1842–1928
South Australian Marriages Index, 1842–1937
Springvale Botanical Cemetery records
The Advertiser death notice, 22 June 1994
Australian War Memorial records

Biography by Trevcat - 31/07/2025