VARLEY, William
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Unspecified British Units |
| Born: | Plympton, South Australia , 2 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, and University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Lawyer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France , 24 March 1918, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Albert Communal Extension Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jan 1915: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Unspecified British Units, England |
|---|
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From the book Fallen Saints
William Varley of Glenelg, South Australia was born in March 1892. He was educated at the Collegiate School of St Peter and after leaving there entered the Adelaide University to study law; he was later articled to the firm of Symon, Ronnsevelle, and Cleland.
William was a good sportsman and as he lived in the seaside suburb of Glenelg was an ardent yachtsman.
He won many races in his boat, Sport Royal, and also built another boat, Wippipippi, with which he won races. He played lacrosse for the University A team and in Inter-University matches. He won his blue for lacrosse. [i]
In 1915, William and his brother Jack both enlisted in England; William was posted to the Royal Field Artillery as a Second Lieutenant. Little more is known about either man other than the fact that Second Lieutenant Varley’s unit the 2nd /1st (Lancs) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery joined II ANZAC in July 1916; he probably spent time catching up with as many Old St Peter’s boys and South Australian friends as he could find.
The circumstances surrounding Second Lieutenant William Varley’s death are unknown however, he is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website as having died on 24 March 1918; he was 26 years of age. His parents, Hiram ( Mayor of Glenelg) and Alice Varley ensured their son would never be forgotten by having a ships warning light erected on the end of the Glenelg jetty and his name placed on their gravestone at Brighton Cemetery, South Australia.
[i] Adelaide Chronicle – 20 April 1918, p. 39
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