William Hare

1921 - 2011

     William Hare ANZAC Day 2000

Brief History

Born 22nd July 1921 at Kendall, NSW.  Second son of five children of Arthur and Jessie Hare (nee Douglass) of High Street, Greta, NSW.

William (Bill) attended Greta Public School and West Maitland Technical College to age 14.  Worked on farms and whatever was available such as grape picking.

He joined the AIF in August 1940 and served until November 1945.  See War Service below.  During war service he studied and received a Diploma in Diesel Engineering.

On discharge he began work as a Motor Mechanic in Wauchope.  Married Nancy, youngest daughter of Charles and Ruby Everingham of Cameron Street, Wauchope on the 10th June 1946.  Their family consisted of four sons, Denis, Brian, Eric and Anthony.

Bill became an Honorary Ambulance Officer and worked and trained in spare time.  Joined the Permanent Ambulance Service on the 12th November 1950 and was stationed at Port Macquarie.  Promoted to Station Officer at Bonalbo, then appointments at Nambucca Heads and Macksville.   Studied for Ambulance Diploma and was appointed Superintendent of the Ambulance Service in Cootamundra and then Wagga Wagga.

He retired from service 23rd July 1981.  Assisted in Ambulance career by wife Nancy, as early appointments were single officer stations, with Nancy running the station (including communications) while he was on jobs.  Son Anthony also became an Ambulance Officer.

Bill was awarded the NSW Ambulance Long Service Medal and Australian National Medal with clasp.  He was made a life member of the St John Ambulance Association.

Dad pass away on the 9 July 2011 and is sadly missed by us all


 

Service Overview

(2/1st Battalion, 6th Division, AIF)

 

 William Hare in Army uniform during WW2
 

NX47118 William Hare enlisted into the AIF on the 26th August 1940 and was a member of the 2/1st Battalion, 6th Division, AIF for most of his service (almost 6 years) during the Second World War. 

He was inducted into Camp at Manilla Road, Tamworth, where initial training was carried out.

Sailed from Sydney on 4th February 1941 on SS Aquitania to Bombay, India where was transferred to Dutch Ship Slamaat and disembarked in Egypt 16th March 1941.

Carrier Company on Parade

Served North Africa, Egypt, Palestine and Syria as Driver Mechanic on Bren Gun Carriers with 2/1st Infantry Battalion, AIF.

Embarked Middle East 12th March 1942 and sailed to Colombo, Ceylon on SS Uffington Court.  He spend four months in Ceylon doing Jungle Training and under the threat of invasion.

Left Ceylon on the Devonshire, 7th July 1942.  Celebrated 21st Birthday one week from Perth.  Arrived in Melbourne 8th August 1942.  Sailed from Brisbane for Port Moresby on the Anhui, 29th September 1942.

William  Hare repairing Bren Gun Carrier in Syria during WW2

Detached from 2/1st Battalion to 16th Brigade Carrier Company to operate coastal patrols east of Port Moresby.

2/1st Inf Bn Carriers on Patrol

The 2/1st Battalion campaign was over by Christmas, but the 16th and 17th Brigade Carrier Company's (minus carriers) were given a special task to hold the Aerodrome and valley at Wau-Mubo as 'Kanga Force' with 17th Brigade Infantry Battalions and Independent Companies (Commandos).

They were flown over the mountains at Kokoda by American Air Force and operated as Machine Gun Units.

Group of 2/1 Inf Bn including William Hare

Wau is 150 miles north of Port Moresby and was wanted desperately by the large Japanese force that landed at Salamaua and Lae.  Wau was vital to Australian and American Forces.

Flown out when task was completed and sailed on Duntroon 11th May 1943 to Cairns and rejoined 6th Division training on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland.

Trained with 6th Division Carrier Company until 3rd July 1944, then rejoined 2/1st Battalion.  Sailed on the 9th December from Cairns on the Van Heutz and landed Aitape, New Guinea 15th December 1944.

Walked with 9 Section, 9 Platoon, A Company as Section Leader and Forward Scout from Aitape to Wewak and swam some big rivers with many trips to hospital and anxious moments along the way. 

Embarked on the Katoomba at Wewak 13th October 1945 and landed Brisbane 26th October 1945.  Discharged 10th November 1945 in Sydney.

Served for a total effective period of 1903 days (1077 outside Australia), which included active  service.

First Infantry Battalions Association Web Site:   1rar.org.au      

Wikipedia 2/1st Batttalion:    2/1st Battalion (Australia)


Military Descendants

Denis Hare OAM BEM
Denis Hare (Son), Ex Army, South Vietnam 1968

Brian Hare   Eric Hare
Brian Hare (Son)               Eric Hare (Son)
(Both Ex RAAF and Eric also Army Reserve)
Tony Hare 2009
Anthony 'Tony' Hare (Son)
(Anbulance Paramedic, while not military, in Dad's footsteps)

Nathan Hare
Nathan Hare (Grandson), Ex Army, Afghanistan 2013

April, Denis, Colleen and Nathan
L-R April Hare (Ex RAAF - Wife of Grandson), Denis Hare (Ex Army - Son),
Colleen Hare (Ex Army - Daughter-in-Law), and Nathan Hare (Ex Army - Grandson).
ANZAC Day, Norfolk Island 2019


William Hare Family Tree

William Hare Family Tree
Click for larger View


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