William John (Billy) BRETT

BRETT, William John

Service Number: 2785150
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR)
Born: Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 2 February 1946
Home Town: Armidale, Armidale Dumaresq, New South Wales
Schooling: Armidale High School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Special Constable UNE
Died: Viet Cong ambush, Dat Do, South Vietnam, 30 September 1967, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Armidale General Cemetery
Church Of England Section: Sub section: Sector: Plot: Row: 15B Grave: 31
Memorials: Armidale Private William Brett Memorial Plaque, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour
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Vietnam War Service

19 Jul 1967: Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 2785150, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR)
19 Jul 1967: Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private

Pre Conscription

William was working as a Special Constable at the University of New England and had just gotten engaged to Helen, when his number came up.

Helen continued to tend Billy's grave and lay flowers for years afterwards until old age overcame her.

"The last I saw of Billy was when he boarded the train at Armidale Station"

Pat Young - Sister

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Biography

2785150 Private William John Brett,  Aged 21, member of 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

A dawn ambush on 30th September 1967 killed Pte. Brett when the VC attacked their army vehicle in Dat Do, East Phuoc Tuy.

Pte Brett was buried at the Armidale Cemetery, NSW.