Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leader and Team-man

William ‘Bill’ John Westley

Bill was Riverland born in May 1922, the first baby to be born on the Chaffey irrigation area after developmental work commenced there. As a youngster, Bill attended various "Lock" schools and the Goolwa School. Just five years old, Bill and his older siblings, Violet, Gwen and Jim, after having done their evening chores and to keep cool, went swimming across the river near the Number 6 lock. They were accompanied by a local man, Alf Harding, who had been boarding with the Westley family. When young 9-year-old Jimmy got into difficulties, Harding worked frantically to keep the youngster afloat in a selfless act but in doing so, lost his own life. This had a lasting effect on Bill, his family and the close-knit River community.

 Bill’s father was head trainer for the local football team and Bill quickly rose through the ranks, regularly featuring in the best player list as a result of his high marking and accurate passing; also being praised for his dash and brilliance, despite still being classified as a junior. Bill frequently combined with Gordon Westley to create scintillating passages of play in the forward lines, resulting in spectacular goals. Playing in the ruck position, the local Murray Pioneer newspaper described Bill Westley’s “polished display in the cardinal position as a feature of the game” as he soared high over the pack on several occasions. Bill, as captain, was quick to praise his teams’ performance and their ability to work cohesively. He was reported in the Murray Pioneer as saying that he “was highly delighted with the form displayed by the Berri players. Every player had pulled his weight and the side's finishing effort was most encouraging.”  This group of talented players were a feature of the Berri football team of that era. Tom (later ‘Diver’) Derrick was but one of this close-knit team; described after one match as “The diminutive T. Derrick was also worthy of mention; what he lacks in inches, he certainly makes up for with determination.”

In 1936, Bill as Captain, was gracious in defeat by old foes, Waikerie with the very sporting comment that “the best team won on the day, and that's how all premierships should be decided.” Bill was also selected as Captain of the 1937 United Murray representative football team which successfully defeated the SA State League North Adelaide team by a solitary point, 14 goals 6 to 15 goals 9.

With the outbreak of WWII, Bill was initially involved in the local Citizen’s Milita services in February of 1930 as S39203 before enlisting in Queensland, just prior to his 20th birthday to become SX31263. The close-knit Riverland football team which had played so successfully together, enlisted together and continued to keep in contact, relaying information back to their community about the welfare of each other. Sgt Bern. R. Cant wrote from "Somewhere in the Middle East", that “our chaps have put up a splendid show in the desert under very difficult conditions and the troops generally are in grand condition and ready for anything. I have seen a number of River boys. A few days ago I had a visit from Ray Dorlan of Renmark, Dick Rix and Ray Smith (Berri) and H. H. Short Of Barmera. Prior to that I had seen Roger Jacka, Jock Hood, Bill Westley, Lou Semmens and several others. I have missed seeing Colin Williams each time I have been near his abode but I have seen Jack Price on several occasions. They all look remarkably well.”

Similarly, Private John Morrell reported “Jock Hood and Bill Westley and Co. are also in the vicinity and their crowd have seen quite a bit of action and are building up a big name of themselves.” Soon after in April 1941 the local paper reported that Bill had been wounded in action by a machine gun bullet fired from a dive bomber, causing an injury to Bill’s foot but that he was not in a serious condition. It was reported that “Bill, as he is familiarly known in the River districts, was one of the batch of footballers who enlisted "en masse. He is a former captain of the Berri 18.” Through the Murray Pioneer, in a letter written while he was recuperating, Bill described “The town in which he was in hospital was raided four or five times a day and they were deliberately bombing the hospital he said. One ward was blown to pieces. Bomb after bomb was dropped and the end of the ward next to the one he occupied was blown off but fortunately there were no casualties. Our hurricane planes went up after the raiders, he said, and shot down eight, anti-air craft guns got two and the Navy three— thirteen out of the twenty-three.” He added that “the boys out there could not speak too highly of the English soldiers who would stick to the last man.“ His gunshot injury plus eye trouble due to glare caused him eventually to be invalided home in February of 1942, the first of his Berri football team to return for on-going treatment. Typically, he spoke highly of the work of the Red Cross who had consistently supported the forces while they were overseas. At that time, his brothers who had also enlisted, were reported in 1945 as being prisoners of war in Japanese hands. One, A. J. (Jim) Westley was taken prisoner in Java, and latest word of him was received six months ago. The other, J. E. (Jack) Westley, fell into Japanese hands in Malaya, and latest word concerning him was received about eight months previously.

A natural sportsman, Bill became involved with golf. In only his second season, he won the Ex-Servicemen’s Golf Cup and Open Cup in 1948. Charitably he instructed that the ample cup be filled with some good Scotch Whisky, and do the rounds of the dinner tables!

Aged just 59 years, Bill died at Strathalbyn on the 21st November 1981. He is buried in the RSL section of the Strathalbyn Cemetery and his service is commemorated on the Berri Roll of Honor.

Tribute researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133