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Alec’s young brother, William ‘Bill’ Aleman (also known as William Dulvarie) (155547; QX 27328) was born in 1922 in Mackay, Queensland. William’s father was Javanese and his mother Singaporean. They were born in Mackay. William worked as a cane cutter, also in Australian Post, and as a linesman in New Guinea. He enjoyed respect not only by family members, but by the local Muslim community. He was a strong and quiet man. Prior to the war it was a difficult life for him as a ‘coloured person’. However, he enlisted in the Army and ‘was fairly accepted’. He had many friends of different ethnic backgrounds and ‘his best friend in Mackay and in the Australian Army was an Australian, Tom McFarlaine’.

He enlisted on 15 January 1942 in Walkerston, Queensland at the age of 17. He enlisted in the Army because ‘he loved Australia and also, he wanted to earn more to help his family’, stated Bonita Macdonald-Aleman. William served in the Australian Army, holding the rank of Private. He served in the 2/14th Battalion which took part in a number of campaigns, including the Kokoda Track campaign, which was critical for the Australians as the Japanese advanced towards Port Moresby. Casualties were high, many being killed in action, some died and numerous others wounded. While fighting in a number of campaigns, such as Port Moresby, New Guinea and Balikpapan, Borneo, Private William Aleman demonstrated conspicuous gallantry, bravery and devotion to duty even when he received the sad news that his mother had passed away. William’s eldest daughter Bonita Macdonald-Aleman remarked, ‘His mother passed away when he served in decisive battles overseas. For him ‘it was the most difficult moment while serving in the army’. Rather, he was focused on defending Australia defeating emery in New Guinea. It was the Kokoda campaign that keeps a central place in the Australian public’s consciousness, frequently described as a ‘battle that saved Australia’. It has come, during the recent decade, to ‘rival Gallipoli as a focus of national commemoration and reflection’. The attributes of those patriotic soldiers, including William Aleman, who fought the campaign – such as loyalty and mateship – have come deeply associated with supposed ‘Australian values’. He was discharged on 18 January 1946 at 2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion.

After the war, William didn’t talk much about the war. Rather he enjoyed his hobbies, fishing, mustering cattle, and watching wrestling. His wife practised going to a back room, unrolling a prayer-mat and praying. She often went to the mosque while William went occasionally, usually on Fridays. During Ramadan and the ‘Eid festivals she made an Indonesian type of rice cake. William cooked as well, manly curry with lamb or chicken and welcomed guests. He played the guitar, mainly country and western music. All eleven of William’s children had Javanese (Muslim) names but they didn’t call themselves by those names, rather they adopted Anglicised non-Muslim names. They chose to live as the majority of Australians and integrate into society.

It was when William’s wife passed away, only two months later, and one day after her birthday, that William passed away too. The death of his wife broke his heart. His funeral was performed according to Islamic custom. William was buried next to his wife. The headstone said: ‘Bill and Doris Aleman’. The funeral was led by William’s nephew, Berry Hassan, who was an Imam in Mackay. It was a huge funeral where lots of people came to pay their respects to him. The funeral also included an Australian funeral observance where many of his comrades from the Army attended. His youngest son took part in the Anzac parade in Mackay and other towns in Australia on ANZAC Day.


From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, 'A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution’, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2024