THE DIGGER WHO FOUGHT TWO WORLD WARS

William Henry Ernest Pilbeam joined the Merchant Navy in the Kelvinside Drill Hall Devon England on 15th September 1914. After brief training was transferred to Tillycuttry and placed in the cable section unit. He was the youngest sailor at just 17 and a half years old.

In February 1915 the unit left Devonport England arriving at Mudros. Upon collection of their horses and supplies it was onto Gallipoli, then Egypt and up the Suez Canal laying cables for the 52nd Division.

After a few months in the Sinai Desert it was on to Alexandria then by rail through Italy, under the Alps to Abbeville France to Pont Neuf. Bill was injured whilst laying cables here but was enough for a return to Blighty.

A lucky break as it turned out as his whole unit was wiped out on the Somme. Then attached to 21 corps they were back to Egypt, then Gilbraltar running from a submarine. Back again at Alexandria by train to El Kantar and the Suez again to Gaza.

The Turks surrended after being shelled by the Navy and the now 52nd division was sent to Haifa then Jerusalem. A signal office was established in the German Kaiser’s palace on the Mount of Olives, then onto Jericho and dust like flour.

The next task was rebuilding the telegraph line from Haifa to Beirut via Tyre Sidon helping the Egyptian Troops. After this his unit returned to Damascus where he met Lawrence of Arabia. During his travels Bill also saw Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and Tripoli in Syria.

Finally back to Beirut in March 1919 for the trip home to England and demobilisation. Bill then joined the Australian Army during WWII as a Corporal, later advancing to Lance Sergeant. He was again sent overseas to New Guinea on an ex-Tasmanian Ferry.

He also spent time in Milne Bay and was promoted again to Company Sergeant Major before returning to Australia.