Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William’s parents, Mary Leonora Irene and William lived in Yalpara, a small farming area just out of Orroroo. William Snr. and his father were two of the earliest farmer, grazier and dairy settlers in the northern areas, also being very active in the Orroroo Council and the development of that area. Baby William, named after his father, was born on the 2nd March 1898, but sadly, just four days after his arrival, Mary died, aged 31.
William Snr remarried to Lily, adding two half sibling brothers, Sydney Leonard and Harold Edwin and sister Alice Hazel.
Young William’s early years were challenging with him being just 10 years old when his 44-year-old father died in October 1908, following a long battle with cancer. Numerous newspapers recorded the death, without acknowledging young William as being a son. All reported that ‘He left a widow (a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Chapman, of Walloway) and three children.’

William became a skilled labourer, turning his hand to a variety of employment opportunities and lived in the Paruna region of the Loxton area, a farming and railway town. Affectionately known as ‘Ezzy’ he was a popular musician, playing at numerous dances in the region which were often organised to raise funds for community projects, including the local recreation grounds. He also played at the highly successful Taldra Leap Year Ball and for the Loxton District Hospital to help raise funds for an X Ray unit.
William was also actively involved with sporting clubs, including as scorer for the local Paruna Cricket Club, being secretary of the football club, coordinating Central Umpires for football in the Loxton-Brown’s Well competition with the princely pay of £2/10/ per match and car hire 1/ per mile one way. William was also secretary of the Brown’s Well Rifle Club where he was also quite successful over different distances, including 200, 300 and 700 yards, being placed in the top five of the Captain’s Trophy.
In January ’27, William was involved in attempting to assist in the rescue of a local quarryman working at the Council Quarry when an overhanging bank caved in. Despite every effort by William and others working at the nearby railway yard, the force of the fall caused instant death.
By ’38 William was appointed by the Council as caretaker of the Paruna Cemetery, recreation ground and mill, (at £7 per annum) and the following year as the gravedigger.
William married Inez Agnes Chapman with the two having a daughter, Mary and son, Ralph. However, with the War intervening 42-year-old William, who could have been excused serving because of his age, decided to suggest he was 39 and successfully enlisted. He was given the number SX7946 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Coincidentally, young Sam Parbs from Berri enlisted at a similar time as SX7773 and was placed in the same battalion. Sam and William’s daughter, Mary had formed a strong friendship with Sam that was to blossom.
By October William had been promoted to Acting Corporal. As Corporal, he, Inez and Mary spent his precious leave in Adelaide after the community of Paruna organised a social in his honour in the local Institute. William was presented with a dressing set and the community’s best wishes, plus a speedy return. Dancing, singing and a country supper followed with the evening concluding with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem being sung. The Returned Soldiers of the Paruna district also organised a presentation of a money belt in the Soldiers’ Clubroom to Corporal ‘Ezzy’ Arthur.
William and Sam were soon aboard the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East the following month on the 17th. William contracted an unknown illness and was hospitalised in Dimra. Conditions were challenging after his discharge, with William being charged with being drunk, before then contracting an extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), sandfly fever, and an infection, causing blood in his urine and further time in hospital, before joining the Depot Battalion.
In the meantime, Sam Parbs had returned to Australia in September ’42, having been diagnosed with Poliomyelitis. Driver Sam and William’s daughter, Mary Arthur from Parkside announced their engagement in December ’42, marrying in the Paruna Catholic Church in February the following year. (At the time, a combination of factors eventually resulted in William leaving the Middle East at the end of January, arriving in Sydney on the 28th February, then in Adelaide in March ‘43.) Knowing he would be unable to attend the wedding, William had thoughtfully sent a gift of a filigree set comprising brooch, necklet, bracelet, and earrings, from Palestine which Mary wore on the day. William’s son, Ralph acted as Sam’s best man and esteemed family friend, Mr. Ern Kupke, walked Mary down the aisle.
Following his return to Adelaide, William attended courses in Field Hygiene and Water Duties. He also spent some time in the 14th Australian Prisoners Staging Camp where he attracted a reprimand for his lack of discipline before he was finally discharged on the 17th July ’44, aged 46.
Almost two years later, William attended his son’s wedding in March ‘46. Ralph married Frances Petch of Paruna in her local church before a reception in the Paruna Institute. William and Inez were able to be part of the receiving group of the newly weds and two sets of parents.
60-year-old Inez died in December ’56. William’s last years were spent at Myrtlebank, a suburb of Adelaide until aged 84 he died on the 1st June ’82 and is buried in the Derrick Gardens of Remembrance at Centennial Park Cemetery, in Tree Bed 32, plot 1.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.