Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

- Completed by Investigator College

William Jack Pedler, known to close family and friends as Bill (June Laws, personal communication, 2025) was born on the 22nd of June 1920, to parents Howard and Alice Pedler (Formally Burrows) in the suburb of Prospect, South Australia (William Jack Pedler (1920-1980) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree 2024). William grew up in a large corner block, with his parents and two older brothers Clifford and Leonard. As William grew older, he found interest in badminton and later joined his local church of methodists team, (June Laws, personal communication, 2025) as that was the religion his family followed (NAA,2025).

As William was the youngest out of his siblings, that meant he significantly looked up to his brothers, following their success through the duration of his school years (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). After completing 7 years of primary education at Nailsworth primary school, William entered his 8th year of education in 1934, at Adelaide high school, where his two elder brothers also studied. Williams love for sport and education was made clear in his school reports. His principal commenting ‘He has always shown great interest and industry in his work, and his general attitude’ in his 7th grade end of semester report, of the year 1934.

After completing his year 10 studies, William decided to leave school, completing half a year of home study at Stotts Business College where he studied geography and bookkeeping. After completing his studies, he gained a job as a clerk at the SA Farmers Union in Adelaide (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).

In 1939 William was formally conscripted (June Laws, personal communication, 2025) into the Australian Army, to serve in WWII (DVA Nominal Rolls, 2025). Despite this difficult challenge he was forced to face, he did not shirk his duties but instead showed great perseverance. William knew fighting for his country and his family was the correct thing to do (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). After being notified about his conscription, William had to fill out a mobilization attestation form to prove his commitment at the age of 19years old (NAA, 2025).

After receiving his conscription letter, William formally enlisted on the 26th of July 1940 for part time service. William began the start of his training in Woodside South Australia from the 1st of October 1940 until the 11th of November the same year. Then later heading to Queensland joining the training camp on the 19th of March 1941 till the 16th of June the same year (NAA, 2025), training to become a member of the 13th Field Regiment, AMF (VWMA, 2025).

Later William received health checks where he was then required to have all his teeth removed and given dentures in replacement. Despite his teeth being in perfect condition he didn’t have a choice, as this was done to stop toothaches occurring while in action (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). On the 15th of December 1941, William was called in for full time service and later embarked on his journey on the 27th of December the same year (NAA, 2025). Beginning his service as a single man his next of kin was initially listed as his father, Howard Samuel Jewell Pedler (NAA, 2025). The exact ship William took to get to Port Moresby remains unconfirmed, although the RMS Aquitania left Sydney to Port Moresby the same day William embarked, making it likely to be the transportation he took (Great Ocean Liners, RMS Aquitania, 2024). William later served in Papua New Guinea from the 27th of December 1941 until the 18th of October 1943 for a total of 661 days (NAA,2025).

Williams unit, the 13th field regiment, fought the battle of Buna-Gona (VWMA 13th field regiment,2025). His unit fought against the Japanese on the shores of New Guinea using a range of artillery. The Australian soldiers worked alongside with allied forces (2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion 2025). The results lead to Australia taking victory (Battle of the Beachheads | Kokoda Campaign History in Papua New Guinea 2025).
The 13th Field Regiment was based in the tropics of New Guinea, that endured difficult living conditions. William was required to take Atebrin tablets after each meal, sleep under a mosquito net, and apply repellent lotion every 3 hours, in the hope of preventing tropical diseases like malaria. He was reminded of these steps on the first page of his pay book. These procedures were not always successful, as William got quite ill suffering from pneumonia, malaria, dysentery and tinea.

Due to strict policies any letters William wrote home would have to pass through strict censorship standards. Meaning he was unable to advice any locations or experiences he was having in New Guinea (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). His Fiancé Shirley would often send packages of food to cheer him up, reminding him of home as food during war was not appetizing and limited (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).
William did not take a diary on his journey to document his time but rather followed his journey through photographs with his friends. His photos remained with him for the duration of his life, through all his ups and downs (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). Throughout his war service William formed lifelong friendships with fellow soldiers in his unit.

When William was not on the front lines fighting his group was set up by the sea, making it their main source for bathing and washing clothes. William along with his unit used the sea as a way to cool down and wash off. William along with a few of his friends went in the sea at low tide without realising the sharks got over the net. This didn’t frighten them but instead made them laugh. When William was facing tough life or death situations every day the small things really brought him joy (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).

After hard work and dedication, William was promoted to the position of Corporal, in March 1946 and later Sergeant in August the same year.

On the 19th of January 1946 William took leave and married Shirley Pedler (formally Miller) his beloved wife.

On the 2nd of September 1945 war officially came to an end. (The National WW11 museum New Orleans, 2025) William was sent to Woodside South Australia to complete the remainder of his service before being discharged on the 9th of May 1947 (NAA,2025). When discharged he returned home to his wife’s house. Due to harsh conditions including constant movement and weather conditions, William faced during the war he continued to sleep outdoors, under the front veranda. It took him a while to eventually start sleeping back inside (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).

William and Shirley later had 3 children Brian, June and Helen (William Jack Pedler (1920-1980) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree 2024) and later purchased a home in Blair Athol, which was purchased with the help of a war service loan.

William’s children would often ask questions about his experience during war. William didn’t tell them the harsh realities of war but instead talked about what he did with his friends and to pass the time. His daughter June stating, ‘He didn’t want to re-live the bad times and probably didn’t want to frighten us with the things they saw or were ordered to do’ (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).

After taking time to recover from war time duties, William returned to SA Farmers Union and eventually worked his way up to manager (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). Later William made an application for his illnesses on the 9th of May 1947 it then was determined due to war service he suffered with hay fever, recurrent bronchitis, haemorrhoids, tinea, plantar warts and malaria. Malaria was a recurring illness for William, deeply affecting the quality of his life, he ended up spending days in bed (June Laws, personal communication, 2025).

William’s service won him the Pacific Star Medal and Ribbon Pacific. Both of these medals which William never claimed. The conditions at war hugely changed William in many ways emotionally and physically. He never attended any ANZAC day marches, he wanted to move on and forget about one of the hardest times in his life (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). On the 31st of May 1980 at the age of 59 cancer took his life. His immediate family and close friends attended his funeral (June Laws, personal communication, 2025). He was later buried at the South Australian Garden of Remembrance in Pasadena, South Australia (William J Pedler (unknown-1980) - Find a Grave... 2023).