The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (406244) Sergeant William John Halliday, No. 450 Squadron, RAAF, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Andrew Smith, the story for this day was on (406244) Sergeant William John Halliday, No. 450 Squadron, RAAF, Second World War.

406244 Sergeant William John Halliday, No. 450 Squadron, RAAF
KIA 13 June 1942
Photograph: P08038.001

Story delivered 23 March 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant William John Halliday, whose photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

Bill Halliday was born on 2 September 1921 to William and Elizabeth Halliday. He was born in West Leederville, Perth, and went to the Leederville State School and then the Perth Boy's School. When he was eight years old his father, who had fought in the First World War with the 10th Light Horse, was killed in a car accident, and Billy and his sisters Ila and Dorothy were raised by their mother. He played cricket and tennis, and was a member of the Wests Baseball Club and, like his father, the Perth Polo Club.

Bill Halliday became a clerk, and then took on an apprenticeship in printing through the City Community College. He worked in the composing room of West Australian Newspapers Ltd, and as soon as he turned 18 he enlisted for service in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was accepted in October 1940 at the age of 19, and underwent training in Australia before heading overseas in July 1941 as a fighter pilot. He was considered to be an average pilot who was keen to learn and to fight.

Sergeant Halliday was attached to No. 450 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force and sent to fight in the Middle East. In early 1942, while flying Kittyhawks, he was shot in the left arm and side by the enemy, and spent a couple of weeks recovering in hospital. He rejoined his squadron shortly before the fall of Tobruk.

Just weeks after returning to his squadron, Halliday was piloting a Kittyhawk in a formation of six aircraft. They were providing cover for eight Boston bombers who were targeting enemy motor transports in the El Adem area of Libya. Before reaching the target, they saw 12 enemy bombers with ten fighters accompanying them, and the Kittyhawks peeled off and engaged with the German aircraft. After a short dogfight, the German aircraft pulled out and the Kittyhawks returned to base.

Sergeant Halliday was the only one not to return. One Kittyhawk was reported to be seen burning on the ground, but it took many months to confirm that Halliday had been killed in action, and he was officially presumed dead on 13 June 1942.

It was rumoured that Halliday had been buried near the site of the crash, and much later a grave was discovered with just a few remains inside. It was accepted that this was probably Bill Halliday's grave, and his remains were reinterred in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. He was 20 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with around 40,000 others from the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant William John Halliday, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.