Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William, born on the 21st September 1910 was the second generation of his family to be born and raised in Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula. His father, Edward James was Moonta-Mines born in April 1888. Moonta was known for its copper, which attracted many miners from England, especially Cornwall, earning it the name of being ‘Little Cornwall’. William’s mother, Myrtle Vennetta had seven children, William being the oldest. His siblings included Clarence, Stanley Douglas, Kathleen, Daisy Florence, Eric and John. Sadly, conditions at the time were harsh with baby Stanley only living for four days, Daisy Florence for just a day and baby John also for a day. William was 36 when his 28-year-old sister, Kathleen died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in ’47.
The children had all attended the Moonta Public School where Eric particularly, proved to be a competent student. He and Clarence were also finalists in the local Regatta Club competitions in sculling and pair-oar racing in ’31.
William married Dorothy Emma Badcock and they had three daughters and a son, the first born in ’28. Their family, living in Woodville, was devastated by the death of their second daughter, Iris Dawn, aged just 17 months in December ’39. She was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery - "Another bud to bloom in heaven."
The following year, aged 29, William was an early enlistee at Port Adelaide on the 12th July ’40 to serve in WWII. He was given the number SX8675 and allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.

Both William’s surviving brothers also later enlisted. Eric, who had been with the militia, enlisted on the 20th October ‘41 as SX38159. He served with the Royal Aust Engineers in Darwin, Torokina and Fauro Island. Following his unofficial absenteeism from the 28th April until the 12th June he faced a Court Martial in June ’44 and was required to serve 60 days of detention, which delayed his discharge until the 27th February ’46. 28-year-old Clarence 116224 was the last to enlist on the 1st October ’42 becoming a leading aircraftsman. He was discharged on the 11 February ’46.

Following pre-embarkation leave William boarded the Stratheden in November, arriving in the Middle East on December 17th. The change in diet and physical conditions in the desert contributed to him developing a colon inflammation, requiring several weeks of treatment. Attempting to destroy morale, the Germans designing a derogatory term that the troops were living like rats underground in their sandy dugouts. Instead, in typical Aussie style, the men proudly adopted the term, a Rat of Tobruk, as a badge of honour and camaraderie. Many also ‘pushed the boundary’, as did William early in April ‘42, by unofficially having a night out. The three-day punishment of being confined to barracks and loss of pay seemed a high price for the foray.
By February ’42 the 2/48th was finally on the way home to Australia via Melbourne. Following brief leave to see his family, William was then transported to Queensland to prepare for fighting in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. He arrived early in August ’43, but bouts of high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), malaria, tinea and other contagious skin complaints marked his service until he finally returned to Townsville at the end of March ’44. Almost inevitably, William in May and June reacted with a further absence and poor conduct which together cost him pay and freedom, being confined to barracks.
It was extremely difficult for the families of soldiers serving overseas, particularly for those, like Dorothy, with several children to care for. In January, just prior to William’s discharge, she and her two daughters were fortunate to escape being charged for a spur of the moment decision in the main Adelaide Shopping precinct. The fact that her husband was in the fighting force, carried sufficient weight.
For William, by April ’45 the cumulative effects of constant warfare on his well-being were finally recognised with his discharge on the 6th May ’45.
He subsequently found work as a scaffold rigger. However, he also tried to escape his wartime experiences through the consumption of alcohol. Whilst under this influence, he and a co-accused reacted violently to be called an unsavory name and were required to face court. Part of William’s defence was that his ‘record was clear, and he had a good war service of nearly, six years, serving overseas. The wounding (of the victim) was slight.’ Despite no weapon being used, 40-year-old William had only used his fists, he was gaoled for six months as the attack was deemed vicious and prolonged, with no justification and the injuries inflicted were severe.

58-year-old Dorothy pre-deceased William and died in May ’68. She was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery. 65-year-old William, then living at Taperoo died on the 25th July ’76. He was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion