William Arthur (Bill) BRIGHT

BRIGHT, William Arthur

Service Numbers: W5627, WX31681
Enlisted: 1 April 1941
Last Rank: Lance Corporal
Last Unit: 7 Heavy Brigade
Born: Fremantle, Western Australia, 8 January 1922
Home Town: Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Van Driver
Died: Fremantle, Western Australia, 5 September 2002, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

1 Apr 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, W5627, 7 Heavy Brigade
10 Jul 1942: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, W5627, 7 Heavy Brigade
11 Aug 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, WX31681
14 Mar 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Gunner, WX31681, ex Townsville for Milne Bay per Tarooma
27 Sep 1944: Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Gunner, WX31681, ex Milne Bay for Townsville per Canberra
19 May 1945: Promoted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, Australian ‘A’ Heavy Battery
20 Nov 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, WX31681

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Lance Corporal William Arthur Bright (Service No:WX31681) first enlisted in the ACMF (Private; Service No:W5627) and served with 7th Heavy Brigade before enlisting in the AIF ('in the field' in Geraldton WA) on 11 August 1942. Lance Corporal Bright served with 5 Heavy Artillery Battery RAA, 2/24 Australian General Field Coy and Australian 'A' Heavy Battery. He served in New Guinea from 14 March 1944 to 22 September 1944 and was Discharged on 20 November 1945.

Born in 1922 in Fremantle WA, Bill was the only child of Arthur William Bright MM (b1883 in County Tipperary, Ireland) and Myrtle Annie Hicks (b1887 in Fremantle, WA). Arthur ( a Soldier) and Myrtle married in 1920 in Fremantle WA where they settled and Arthur continued serving in the Army - he had enlisted as a seventeen year old in the British Army and served with the Infantry in India before immigrating to Fremantle WA.

Bill worked as a Van Driver in Fremantle WA before enlisting, and in 1943 married Peggy Noel Brown (b1923 in Fremantle, WA) - Peggy was a Private serving with the AAWS, and had been a Tailoress prior to enlisting. Bill and Peggy settled in Fremantle WA where Bill worked as a Taxi Driver and Proprietor. Bill and Peggy both died in 2002 - Peggy in June and Bill in September.

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