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Bill, born on the19th February 1918 at Torrensville to Carl Perring and Wilhelmina Rebecca Ziesing was their oldest son. He had two brothers, Ronald Carl and Mervyn. His parents were active supporters of the Catholic Church with Carl sponsoring prizes for the winners of a gentleman’s euchre tournament in ’23. Carl, a tram conductor, was fortunate to survive two serious falls in his occupation. In the first incident in September ’34, 45-year-old Carl fell from the footboard of a tram in Wakefield street, opposite the Parkwynd Private Hospital and was semi-conscious when admitted to that hospital. The Advertiser reported that ‘His head was badly cut, and it is thought that his skull may have been fractured. Following a fatal fall by a tram conductor some weeks ago, the Tramways Trust recently announced its intention of installing corridors in trams.’ It is unclear if this was done when Carl sustained his second fall from a moving tram at the Hackney tram depot in June ’39 where he sustained concussion and abrasions and was again hospitalised in the Adelaide Hospital.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Bill who lived with his parents at St Peters, was a grocer’s assistant but also volunteered with th St. John Ambulance Association and was part of the Naval Reserve. Just after his 22nd birthday, Bill enlisted on the 29th May 1940 at Wayville and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. 15 months later, his younger brother Ronald enlisted with the RAAF, rising to become a Sergeant. Bill’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave Bill and others in his battalion boarded the Stratheden headed for the Middle East.
By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk faced with insanitary conditions and rations as well as constant bombardment. Bill and ‘Diver’ Derrick became good mates and was described as having been ‘of a similar mould to Derrick’. In Mark Johnston’s meticulously researched book, Derrick VC In His Own Words Derrick’s diary entries are published with explanatorty notes where necessary. They include ‘14th July 1941 Back once again, Had a very quiet night, too quiet to be healthy – went out to White Noll & a shade further: about 200 yards out, did not encounter any enemy, but think they were waiting for us. – Slept all day. – Going out tonight again approx. same vicinity under Sar Ziesing.’
‘15th July Back again and had a ton of luck. – Bill and I crept forward to White Noll and encircled it & was immediately fired on by enemy who used MGs mortars and rifle. Made a cautious retreat… Accomplished our objective, to find if knoll was occupied.’
‘16th July No more patrols for a while, an attack is set for tomorrow night. Must remark on the gameness of Sjt Ziesing on previous night.’
‘3 August 1941 A hell of an arty barrage going over at 0325. We moved at 0327, all reached Tower wadis and safely awaited success sig red, green, red. Returned through heavy fire just before daylight. Met 2 SBs with victim who said 28th were knocked badly. Note Derrick and the rest of Sgt Ziesing’s No 8 Platoon had the job of covering the left flank of the 2/28th’s advance on Posts S6 and S7. Explained that no success signals were given to advance and 2 2/48th men of C and D companies were killed and two wounded while waiting for a success signal.’
John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan explained in greater detail the policy of the 2/48th Battalion during this spell in the Salient as aiming to ‘open up with everything for about fifteen minutes of concentrated fire on any one post that was particularly troublesome. This had a great moral effect on the enemy and gave our men a distinct advantage. Nevertheless, casualties continued to grow. In the very early hours of 3rd August a ‘number 8 Platoon of the 2/48th Battalion with Sergeant Bill Zeising in command, which had the job of covering the left flank of the 2/28th attack, advanced over rough ground through shell fire to reach their objective in the Water Tower Wadi.’ The 2/48th were involved in fierce fighting in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29. Conditions at the time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Montgomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward.
Glenn explained that ‘On the night of the 25th October orders were received to attack Trig 29. It was perhaps the most daring and outstandingly successful operation carried out by the Eighth Army in this battle.’ It began with the carnage caused by the chance hit from an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines. ‘Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved.‘ He added:
‘The attack continued, however, without pause…it was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. The troops had never been more tired.. The 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest; from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’
‘At exactly midnight the artillery opened up with a terrific barrage… Jack Marshall ran up against a trip wire, sending up a flare which lit the area like day. This brought down heavy German fire.’ Bill Zeising was also wounded in the attack on Trig 29, being hit in the groin by a sniper’s bullet. He later died in hospital.’ Bill was just 24 years old when he died of these wounds on 26th October 1942. A comment was later made about the heavy casualties. 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.
‘Diver Derrick kept a diary that fortunately survived. In it he had marked with an asterick indicating those who were killed or wounded. A comment attributed to Shillaker in Murray Farquhar’s Derrick VC was that “It just shows how we pressed our luck. Almost every man went down, one way or another. All three platoons suffered the same. Barely a man went unscathed.” In another humorous comment attributed to Clem Billing he was reported to have said “Hell, in 8 Platoon with the Ziesings, Kibbys and Derricks, I had given up hope of moving ahead” All were heroes in his eyes. All were killed.’
Carl and Wilhelmina were informed of their son’s death, reported in the Advertiser on November 7th: ‘Advice has been received that WO Francis George (Bill) Ziesing. eldest son of Mr. C. P. Ziesing, of Ninth avenue, St. Peters, died of wounds on October 26. He enlisted in June 1940 and left for overseas in November the same year. He was nine months in Tobruk. WO Ziesing before enlistment was a member of St. John Ambulance Association and of the Naval Reserve.’ Bill was an active member of the Catholic Soldiers’ Guild, with his death also reported in the Southern Cross.
The Chronicle also posted an official list of those who had died of their wounds with Bill. They were SX6893 Pte Leslie Cutchie, 2/48th Brompton Park; SX6672 Pte. G. Frank Munday, 2/48th Cowell- SX3917 Sgt. Francis G. Ziesing, 2/48th St. Peters.
Tales of Bill’s bravery continued to filter back through those who survived, including Captain Robert Shillaker who was convalescing at Daw Park Hospital. Whilst modest about his own exploits, he was intensely proud of his fellow 2/48th Battalion, including Bill who was killed in action. "Once he climbed a signal post under shellfire to set a telephone he had strapped to his body. The telephone got smashed with a direct hit, and it wasn't until then that Bill came down," he said.
Originally Bill was buried in the field. He is now in the El Alamein War Cemetery in Plot A 11 Row H Grave 8 where his parents chose the inscription ‘Greater love than this no man hath. Ever remembered R.I.P.’ for his headstone. Bill now rests with others from the 2/3, 2/13, 2/15, 2/24 and 2/43rd Battalions. Nearby in Row G are others from the 2/48th Battalion who died at a similar time, Privates 23-year-old Frederick Pearce, SX11268 from Terowie, Private 24-year-old Frank Munday SX6672 from Cowell and 29-year-old Leslie Cutchie SX6893 from Hackney. All of these were young men aged from 19 – 29 years old, the cream of Australia’s young men who died at a similar time.
Bill continued to be remembered by his family, friends and soldiers from the 2/48th Battalion, including ‘Diver’ Derrick.
Advertiser Wednesday 11 November 1942, ZIESING. —Died of wounds in A.I.F., Egypt. W.O. Francis George (Bill) Ziesing dearly loved eldest son or Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Ziesing. loving brother of Ronald (R.A.A.F.) and Mervyn, aged 24 years. R.I.P.
Advertiser Tuesday 26 October 1943, ZIESING. W.0.2.—1n memory of Bill who made the supreme sacrifice. Oct. 26. 1942. Egypt. Ever remembered. Mr. Mrs. Wordley and family. ZIESING. W.0.2.—A tribute to the memory of Bill killed in Egypt Oct. 26. 1942— Ever remembered by Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Howell. El. ALAMEIN. —A tribute to the memory or all our gallant men who fell In the great Desert Victory, October 1942. When the roll is called up yonder they will be there. —inserted by F. and J. Plummer, Melbourne. In memory of mv Comrades. "C" Coy, who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein. October 23rd-31st. 1942, C. Rickard. In memory of friends and comrades, who made the supreme sacrifice. July and October. 1942.—Inserted by Lieut. W. A. Byrne. A token of remembrance to my stretcher bearer pals, Sammy. Charley, Maurrie, Wally and Jimmy, and to all boys who were killed at El Alamein. October. 1942.—Inserted by Cpl. Clarrie Duffield. In memory of the boys who fell at El Alamein. October. 1942.—Ever remembered by Ray Dolan, Clem Billing.
Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1944, ZEISING. —In memory of W.O (Bill) Zeising, died of wounds, El Alamein, Oct. 26, 1942. A soldier and man and admired by all who served with him. —Inserted by Sgt. T. C. Derrick V.C., D.C.M., and boys of 8 Pl. Coy., 2/48th Bn. 2/48 BTN. —A tribute of honor to the memory of our pals of 2/48th Battalion who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein, July-October, 1942. —Always remembered by Mick Allen and Stan Crowell (ex A Coy.)
Southern Cross Friday 27 October 1944, ZIESING. —In proud and loving memory of Francis George Ziesing, killed in action at El Alamein on October 26, 1942. Sacred Heart of Jesus, grant his soul eternal rest. — Inserted by his loving father, mother and brothers, Ronald, R.A.A.F., and Mervyn (Bro. Felix, C.B.C., Rozelle, N.S.W.).

Bill’s parents enjoyed a few years together in peace time. 67-year-old Carl died on 28th May 1955 and three years later 73-year-old Wilhelmina died on 6 April ’58. Both are interred in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.