Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Keith was born at Parkside on the 10th February 1918 to Ernest Albert and Emily Hannah Williams. Post school, he became a truck driver and was a popular friend in his group.
Darren Paech in his book ‘Adelaide to Alamein’ recorded that it was a spur of the moment decision for 22-year-old Keith to enlist with his close friend plasterer, Ron Daniels, also 22-year-old from Rosewater Gardens. The two had been to the movies with a ‘couple of girls’. Keith shared that a friend of both, ‘Ozzy’ had already enlisted so Keith would do the same. and the two decided to enlist together on the 5th July ‘40. Keith became SX7851 and Ron SX7863 with both placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
While both friends anticipated sailing together, Ron departed in November on the Stratheden. Keith’s early training was at Woodside in the Adelaide hills until February ’41 when he then embarked for overseas, arriving in the Middle East at the end of March ’41. Training continued at the Amiriya Staging Camp. In December, Keith was diagnosed with a transmissible disease and moved to a special hospital until able to return to the 2/48th. That month, the national broadcast service played Christmas greetings from many overseas servicemen, including Keith. Families were told ahead of time of what disc their serviceman’s greeting would feature, with Keith being on Disc 526 with others from South Australia.
Little did any of the enlistees know at that stage that they would become one of the famed, but unofficial Rats of Tobruk – a title carried with much pride. Designed to destroy morale, the taunt had the opposite effect and was seized on as a badge of honour.
In a very early book, ‘Derrick V.C.’ by Murray Farquhar he describes how the 23rd October ’41 was a clear night with a full moon. The men had a hot meal before being taken to the Tel el Eisa Station. For the men, the wait seemed like an eternity until at 9:40pm a great mountain of guns belched flames. Reactions varied. At Bechelon, several kilometres east, Keith Williams maintains that ‘the blast knocked me back into a slit trench.’
The soldiers advanced at seventy-five metres per minute. There were ‘spider webs’ to avoid – thin films of thread running off to trigger extremely nasty booby traps.
Finally in February ’43 Keith’s battalion was able to return home via Melbourne to enjoy leave and see his family. He was then soon on his way to Queensland to train in the tropical heat to prepare for conditions he would experience in New Guinea against a very different enemy. Keith left Cairns for Milne Bay in August ’43 but soon developed tinea in his foot and a painful skin infection (impetigo) common in the tropics. The latter evolved into a painful leg condition which caused him to be hospitalized. By October Keith was accidentally injured, made worse by the development of a painful leg ulcer. Being transferred to the Details Depot saw him react by non-appearance at parade, which inevitably resulted in a fine.
Keith was eventually able to return to Brisbane in February ’44 but had acquired malaria and a hernia. In the closing days of war, he returned to Morotai and thence to Tarakan before his final return to Australia for discharge on the 14th September ’45. While still overseas, his mother, who had been unwell for some time, died in June that year. The family placed a tribute to her in the Advertiser; ‘WILLIAMS. Emily Hannah.—Beloved wife of Ernest Albert Williams, of 64 Hall st. Semaphore (late of Wallaroo) loving mother of Max and Aussie (returned A.I.F.). Kath and Keith (Tarakan, A.I.F.). and Connie (deceased), aged 62 years. A patient sufferer at rest.’ In the ensuing years on the anniversary of her death, Ernest continued to pace a memorial to Emily in the newspapers.
Post war, Keith returned to driving both buses and trucks. He was unfortunate to be involved in successive car accidents in Broken Hill which resulted in Court appearances and fines as he was found to be driving while under the influence but fortunately had had no previous convictions. His April ’51 appearance accentuated the minimal damage to the other vehicle. As part of his defence, Keith was variously described as a man of good character and being a truck driver for 14 years. Another driver, also charged as being under the influence was also a war veteran, Alfred Shaw, leading aircraftman 154709. The Court fined both £ 8 or 16 days gaol.
The following month Keith was again involved in a car accident which he immediately reported. As part of his defence, the Court was told of Keith’s excellent war record and previous good character. He was fined £12/12/-.
Keith’s familiarity with rifles throughout his war years resulted in a peacetime accident which could have had catastrophic results. Keith and visiting ex-fellow 2/48th serviceman, Lance Sergeant John Cox SX7436 from Grange were on Wentworth Road, Broken Hill. As Jack leaned forward to get cigarettes from the glovebox, he bumped the loaded .22 rifle leaning on the seat between them. Inevitably, it exploded hitting Jack through his right elbow. Following hospital treatment, Jack was discharged.
Keith married Moorook-born Audrey Marie Aird in 1960. Audrey was a very successful midwifery nurse who had passed her exams at the Queen Victoria Hospital with a credit grade in ‘51
Aged 63 Keith died on the 13th January 1984. He is buried at Centennial Park Cemetery in the RSL Wall 115 niche D004. (His headstone records his birth year as 1920. His enlistment papers record 1918. Darren Paech’s book based on Ivor Paech’s friendship with Keith, suggests the enlistment date with fellow 22-year-old Ron Daniels, was correct.)
Keith’s wife, Audrey lived to be 76 and died in 2006. She also is buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, East Area, Rose bed E74, Position 11.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.