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William, known as Will, was born in Broken Hill on the 30th September 1915 to Melita (nee Swainston) and Walter Vivian. Will had an older brother, Thomas Walter Douglas (Tom) and a sister, Muriel. Walter had initially moved to live and work in Broken Hill as a youth, living there for the remainder of his life. Life was not the easiest for Walter as a miner. In June 1911, prior to Will’s arrival, Walter was working an afternoon shift at the 500ft. level in the South mine, when he was hit by a large stone falling on his foot, causing bruising. An ambulance took him home to Ryan Lane in Railway Town to recuperate.
The Depression and scarcity of work also affected those living in Broken Hill and seeking work in the mines. The local Barrier Mine newspaper was scoured each Tuesday as hopeful working men willed their name to appear on the ‘Men for Relief Work’ listing for the following week. If so, they were then required to call at the Labor Exchange at 10 o'clock on Thursday to receive a "go to work" ticket. Preference was given to returned soldiers from WWI, provided they could show evidence of their war service.
As a youngster, Will attended the local Burke Ward Boy’s School, where he proved to be a competent student. However, with the local work shortage, he and his brother headed to Adelaide seeking employment. 18-years-old and living at New Mile End to the west of Adelaide, Bill also volunteered to serve in the Milita in March ‘35, giving his year of birth as 1916. He was given the number 303891 and allocated to the 4/4th Infantry Supply Section. At the time, he gave his occupation as a presser in the Hat and Cap factory, City. With his father, still residing in Broken Hill, Will nominated him as his next of kin. Unexpectedly, 59-year-old Walter died the following year on the 17th May ’36. After 40 years living in the Silver City, he was buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery. The local Barrier Minder described Walter’s life. ‘He worked as a miner along the line of lode and was last employed at the South mine. Mr. Vivian was an active worker in the Silver Star G.U.O.O.F. Lodge, having held office in that lodge and also in the Grand Lodge. He was a member of the W.I.U. Mr. Vivian leaves a widow and a grown-up family of two sons, Messrs. Tom and Will Vivian, of Adelaide, and one daughter, Mrs. H. C. Blackwell, of 163 Ryan-lane. There are three grandchildren.’ As a mark of respect more than 20 members of various lodges marched in front of his hearse.
The family posted a poignant farewell to their husband and father. ‘VIVIAN.—In loving memory of our dear husband, father and grand-father, Walter, who passed away on May 17, 1936. To think we could not say goodbye Will always bring regret; But those that loved you dearly Are those that won't forget. Inserted by his loving wife and family.’
Will sought a variety of work opportunities, including as a painter for Grace Brothers. In ’34, he was involved in working on the roof of the East End Markets. A section on which Will was working had sustained fire damage some years previously and proved to be unsafe. With four workers on the one rafter, Will fell, sustaining injuries to his pelvis, left wrist and other injuries. The case against both Grace Brothers and the East End Market Company was successful in the Adelaide Local Court. Consequently, Will was awarded £100 damages for the companies failing to take reasonable steps to detect the unsafe work conditions of the roof.
He and his mother moved to live in Albert Park, near Port Adelaide and reasonably close to Tom’s young family. With the outbreak of WWII, 24-year-old Will enlisted on the 20th June ’40. At the time he was not employed, a factor also influenced by the Depression and lack of jobs available. He was given the number SX7221 and allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent in the Motor Pavilion of what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where his ‘bed’ was straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The young men were later given kitbags on which their names were stencilled. From there, they travelled to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training.
Will and the members of his battalion were awarded six days of pre-embarkation leave prior to heading overseas. Will, however added an extra day, which resulted in an admonishment and fine of 5/-. In the following days prior to embarking, he again took unofficial leave early in November, forfeiting a further 12/- pay. He finally embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, arriving on the 17th December.
Will’s older married brother, Tom, 33 a hairdresser, enlisted the following year in December ’41. He was given the number S45327 and worked in the 25th Australian Employment Company. By the end of ’43 he was serving at Alice Springs, until a severe case of conjunctivitis saw him return to South Australia. He then served in the Accounts Office, rising to the rank of Lance Sergeant by December ’45. With both sons involved in the war effort, their widowed mother returned to live in Broken Hill in ’44. Tom was eventually discharged in September ’46.
Will had only been in the Middle East for few months when he faced a further hefty fine in March for insubordination to a superior officer, and for non-appearance at a Parade. The loss of 15/- pay was accompanied by 10 days being confined to barracks. In May a further fine of £2 10/- was imposed for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’.
By 6th November, Will was one of many from the 2/48th who were injured in the tumultuous action. He received an entry and exit wound to his right elbow, plus a penetrating wound to his right arm, which proved to be a fracture to his humerus and left knuckle (epicondyle).
At the time, conditions were constantly changing and the fighting continuous. The 2/48th Battalion had prepared for the second battle of El Alamein which began on October 23rd. That month, Mongomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward. This included an all-out attack on the strategically positioned Trig 29. The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn explained that the men were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’
Back home, the November issue of the Chronicle carried the extensive list of the members of the 2/48th Battalion who were killed or wounded with Will. They included SX11130 Pte. Ernest W. S. Moore, Nth. Kensington; SX13756 Pte. Edward G. Davis, Salisbury. Dangerously Wounded.— SX8096 A-Cpl. Henry D. Laughton, King's Park; Wounded In Action. — SX10316 MJr. Geoffrey S. Edmunds, Toorak; SX9064 Lt. Hugh F. Treloar, Adelaide; SX8402 Pte. Arnold. R. Dolan, Renmark; SX6832 Pte. Walter J. Fennell. Berri; SX13701 Pte. Frank M. Lowe, Whyalla; SX7609 Pte. Colin H. Rickard, Penola; SX7411 Pte. Walter H. J. Hay, Murray Bridge; SX11828 Pte. Roy H. Winter, Thebarton; Pte. Leonard F. Adams, Brompton; SX7835 Pte. Clarence W. Duffield. Glanville; SX7242 Pte. Paul A. Pfeiffer, Berri; SX6829 L-Cpl. Clement R. P. Billing, Pinnaroo; SX7666 Pte. Eric J. Chuck, Kalangadoo; SX8810 Pte. Havard (Howard) R. Crabb, Whyalla; SX13683 Pte. Sydney L. Farrell. Broken Hill: SX7657 Fte. Myles. A. Geraghty. Pt . Macdonnell; SX7642 Pte Donald J. Kerin, Burra; SX8837 Pte. Edgar. V. W. Lynch, Adelaide; SX9445 Pte. Lawerence H. Mickan, Cummins; SX7025 A-L-Cpl. Paul B. Morrissey King's Park; SX9530 Pte. David R. Munn, Colonel Light Gardens: SX5030 Pte. Eric R. Olds. Adelaide: SX8239 Pte. Colin R. Parsons, Minlaton; SX8904 Pte. Keith Player, Warooka; Pte. Jack Ralla. Brompton; SX7410 Cpl. Robert F. G. Ranford, Davington; SX14283 Pte. John D Seebohm, Tantanoola; SX11302 Pte. Walter Sharp, Magill; SX7206 Pte. Ronald C. Smith, Helmsdale; SX6894 Pte. Thomas V. Trish, Mile End; SX7221 Pte. William H. Vivian, Albert Park; SX11160 Pte. Samuel E. Welsh, Adelaide; SX7808 Sgt, Jack K. Weston, Appila. These were sobering names and numbers of young South Australians.
Will was hospitalised for two months before he was able to re-join the 2/48th Battalion in January ’43 just in time for the return of the battalion to Australia via Melbourne. He arrived at the end of February ’43. Not unexpectedly, when back in South Australia it was discovered that his fractures had not ‘knit’ so a further bout of treatment ensued until he again re-joined the 2/48th at the start of June ’43. He marked this return by being absent without leave for an hour but fortunately was not fined for that transgression.
Training in Queensland followed to prepare the troops for a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Early in August that year Will left Cairns for Milne Bay.
In January the following year, the conditions under which the battalion were fighting contributed to him contracting a very high fever (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), then inevitably, malaria. Ill health continued to plague Will with foot problems of small, very itchy blisters on his feet and toes (called dyshidrosis) followed by an auto-immune disorder which caused a skin rash and muscle weakness, called dermatomycosis dermatitis. It was possible these were exacerbated by his previous fall at the East End Markets. Neither condition enabled Will to undertake soldier duties and resulted in his return to Australia via Townsville for treatment. Unfortunately, by June ’44 he contracted another bout of malaria, accompanied by a return of his high fever. It was not until September that Will was able to return to his battalion.
Will then undertook special duties until the following year when he again returned to Morotai in April ‘45, then Tarakan for the ‘mopping up’ stage at the end of the war. Eight months later he finally returned to Australia, via New South Wales and thence to Adelaide for his discharge on the 13th November ’45.
Will’s mother lived to see him return but she died on the 24th January ’59. She was buried with Walter in Broken Hill.
Aged 55 Will died on the 24th March 1971. He now rests in Centennial Park Cemetery, with his plaque carrying the inscription ‘Dearly loved husband of Joyce’.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.