Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was the oldest son of George Davidson and Myrtle Lambert Westland, born in Robe on the 9th December, 1908. He had two younger brothers, Lindsay and Ronald. William was the third generation of Westlands to live in Robe as his grandfather, a shepherd, had come by bullock dray from the mid-north area of Boooberowie, then camped under a sheaoak tree in one of the Naracoorte town squares. William’s father, George was one of six children, five of whom survived childhood. He settled in the seaside town of Robe on the Limestone Coast of SA where he brought up his own three sons.
William attended the local Robe school before gaining employment in the Adelaide Postal Department before then returning to Robe as a tally clerk with Highways Department. His uncle and brother of Myrtle, had also served in the Boer War then in WWI at Gallipoli, Palestine and Egypt, which may have inspired William to also enlist when WWII began. He had just turned 32, William enlisted on the 3rd July 1940 to become SX7688. He was assigned to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, where his initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. The new enlistees then headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. After pre-embarkation leave, the 2/48th contingent embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940.
Their 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk, in the most highly decorated but decimated Battalion.
Within a month of arriving in Tobruk, still aged 32, William was killed in action on May 1st less than a year after enlisting. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions at Dimra on that day: “At 3:50 am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.”
The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a sandstorm raged. The next morning there was a terrific dust storm but a foot patrol set out to find their soldiers who had not returned. For a few of those missing men it was some time before their fate was confirmed, however for William’s parent’s his body was found immediately and they were informed of the sad news. Mark Johnson in his recent book, ‘Derrick In His Own Words’ explained that ‘On 1 May the 2/48th suffered 51 casualties, including 16 killed. Besides William, these included Herbert Neumann SX8014 from Aldgate, Robert Carey SX7943 from Portland, John Christerson SX7791 from Yorketown, John Marshall SX7759 from Hawthorn, William Gates SX6867 from Brompton and Allan Glanville Porter SX7315 all from the 2/48th Battalion. A tragic day.
Back home, the local Narracoorte Herald of 27th May informed locals of their casualty list ‘Killed—W. G. Westland, Infantry, Robe. Wounded in action—Pte. Francis. E. S.Grosser Infantry, Bordertown.’ Both had been members of the 2/48th Battalion. The Chronicle also first reported the known deaths from the May 1st battle on the 29th May. More South Australians Killed In Action. — Pte. Douglas E. Bagshaw, SX7468, Infantry, McLaren Flat; Pte. George T. Brown, SX6935, Infantry, Barmera; Cpl. Leslie H. Tonkin, SX6911, Infantry, Paskeville; Pte. William G. Westland, SX7688, Infantry, Robe; Pte. Raymond G. Young, SX6607, Infantry, Hoyleton.
William was the ‘first Robe lad to be killed in action’. The closely supportive community shared in the grief of his family. In an exceptional display of support the Border Watch reported at the end of May ’41 ‘A deep gloom was cast over the town when the news became known that Mr. and Mrs. G.D. Westland, of Robe, had received the sad news of the death in action abroad of their eldest son, Private William George Westland, on May 1. Private Westland, who was 32 years of age, was among the first to answer his country's call, and with several other local lads, enlisted, and went into camp on July 1 of last year. Leaving Australia in November, he spent some of the time in Palestine, and later went to North Africa. He was born at Robe, and received his education here. He later joined the postal employ, and was at the time of his enlistment engaged by the Highways Department as a tally clerk. He was of a cheerful disposition and highly respected.’ The South Eastern Times added that ‘In respect for the deceased, the town's flag was flown at half-mast on the day on which the news was received.’
William was later interred in the Tobruk War Cemetery in Libya, Plot 5 Row A Grave 9. His parents chose the inscription ‘Not a day do we Forget, In our hearts you are always near’. While always in the family’s thoughts, they also publicly recognised his death:
Advertiser Wednesday 21 May 1941, WESTLAND. —On the 1st of May Private William George Westland aged 32, 2nd AIF. abroad, killed in action. Dearly loved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Westland and brother of Lin and Ron. In God's keeping.
Advertiser Friday 1 May 1942, WESTLAND. —In loving memory of Private W. G. Westland. who was killed in action at Tobruk on May 1, I941. He sleeps not in his native land but under foreign skies; Far from those who loved him, in a hero's grave he lies. —Inserted by -his loving parents, brothers and sister-in-law.
Sadly, the other local, Frank Grosser, SX7152 from Bordertown, who was reported injured when William was killed, died of wounds later that year on the 7th August, 1941.
Soon after the declaration of peace, William’s mother Myrtle died aged 62 on 3rd December 1950. She was interred in the Robe Cemetery. William was posthumously awarded his medals, including the 1939 – 45 War Medal and the 1939 – 45 Star which were sent to his father.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.