Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William James Peake (Bill), was born at Mount Gambier, SA on the 1st of March 1924, being the eldest child of seven to parents James and Olive.

William attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from February 1930 to December 1936. William being a member of the Calf Club at school, was lucky to be gifted an Illarra Shorthorn Calf which costed 12 guineas.

Education wasn’t considered important, so it meant that the older children left school at an early age to find whatever work they could to help bring money into the home.

William was working / milking cows and living on a property in the Kalangadoo area, living in a shed on a local property with another fellow who was a bit older. William was seventeen at the time and he and his offsider decided that they were going to enlist, thinking the opportunity of free food, lodgings, pay and a chance of adventure was too good to miss out on.

To get around the enlistment process he lied about his birth date and stated he was born in Queensland. He was tall at around six foot so this made it easier to pass. through.

Bill enlisted in the Third Light Horse Regiment on the 20th July 1940. Private Peake being an accomplished horseman was able to use his skills to train others in the handling of horses and their care. As the Light Horse unit was mechanised Private Peake enlisted in Adelaide into the regular army on the 12th January 1942.

After completing six months training with the 10th Australian Infanity Battalion in South Australia, NSW and Victoria Line of Commands, Private Peake was transferred to the Australian Guerrilla Warfare School in July 1942. After completion in September, he was then posted to the 2/7th Australian Independent Company.

In October 1942 Private Peake was emplaned from Townsville to Port Moresby. From there the Company was flown to Wau in January 1943, to reinforce the Kanga Force during the Salamaua—Lae campaign. Between January and April, the company conducted a number of patrols. They were also directly involved with the defence of Wau, before helping to push the Japanese back to Mubo where they conducted small scale harassments raids.

In April 1943 Private Peake was transferred to the 2/25th Field Park Royal Australian Engineers which was involved in the fighting in New Guinea, undertaking the fighting along the Kokoda Track around Buna–Gona, and in the Salamaua-Lae campaign. Australian and United States forces sought to capture two major Japanese bases one in the town of Lae, and another one at Salamaua.
November 1943 Private Peake contracted Malaria and was in and out of hospitals back in Australia.

Once recovered in February 1945 Private Peake was transferred to the 2/27th Battalion and embarked at Morotai. From Morotai he was part of the Operation Oboe Landings, the battalion took part in an amphibious landing at Balikpapan. The 2/27th formed the spearhead of the assault, capturing several key features overlooking the beachhead. The battalion began patrol operations from its base around Sepinggang and along the coast from Manggarr.

After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the war ending, Private Peake transferred to the 65th Infantry Battalion in February 1946. After some delays the 65th arrived in Japan. Subsequent deployment involved guard duty, patrolling and training.

In April 1947 Private Peake was detached to the 1st Australian Transport Company, then in August 1947 was detached to the 1st Australian Water Transport Company.

Private Peake left Japan in December 1948 to return to Australia and was discharged on the 5th January 1949.

Private Peake served a total of two thousand five hundred and fifty-one days, which included eight hundred and fifty three days active service in Australia and one thousand five hundred and ninety one days active service overseas.

Private Peake was awarded the following medals
1939/45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939/45
Australian Service Medal

Upon his return from serving Australia Bill was selected to play in South Australian Rugby representative side in July 1949. He also played football for Kalangadoo and was a member in its B Grade Premiership in 1951. Bill worked several jobs but was mainly employed as a shearer. It was during this time travelling that he meet his wife Lorna Irene Fletcher on July the 10th 1954. Once married, they moved to Lake Mundie. In 1956 their first son Lawrence, was born in Casterton.

Bill was able to get a war service loan to purchase the house at 46 Boandik Terrace, Mount Gambier. This would remain the family home until his death. In 1958 Dianne was born, followed by Graeme in 1963.

During the following years Bill had several jobs, shearing, driving bull dozers, driving trucks and working in various spot mills as a saw bench operator and managing a BP service station. Eventually Bill began working at Softwoods Holdings. Working afternoon shift meant he had time during the day to tend to his garden, his pride and joy.

At one point he was working afternoon shift at the mill Monday to Friday, then on Saturday mornings he would work for Ansetts driving the bus to the airport and performed various other duties. Saturday afternoons Bill would restack wood at Ridge Mill located just past the airport. On Sundays he would go to Rennick and work at a small spot mill restacking packs of board. Bill became a shop steward for the Australian Timber Workers Union and later joined the Labor Party.
In retirement Bill found a new passion in fishing. Bill and Lorna spent many an hour at the Cray Dump at Port Mcdonnell catching salmon using spark plugs as sinkers.

Sadly Lorna passed away after a lengthy illness in 1994.

After living a full life, providing for his family, Private William James Peake passed away on the 20th August 2000, aged 78 years, and is interred in the Mount Gambier Carinya Gardens Cemetery.