When a cremation box containing the ashes of a deceased former Australian digger was anonymously delivered to a Victorian RSL, a nationwide search to reunite the remains with his family began.
Over the course of a year, members of the Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL in Victoria’s east scoured historical records in an attempt to uncover the man’s story.
All they had to work with was a dusty folder of photos and documents, which linked the ashes to former Australian Army serviceman Private William Halliday.
“We put out the appeal asking for anyone who knew him to come forward,” said Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL Secretary Paul Altimore.
“We had some people come forward with the name of Halliday saying they weren’t related … so that narrowed things down somewhat.”
The appeal gained national attention but unfortunately no surviving relatives were found.
Eventually the search was called off, and Private Halliday was laid to rest in the small town of Yarragon on Tuesday.
“A lot of people have come together to acknowledge a former serviceman, we are commemorating a fellow soldier,” Mr Altimore said.
But private Halliday would not be alone, as he was buried alongside another cremation box inscribed with the name “Lady” and believed to contain the ashes of his pet dog.
Team effort helps uncover life and legacy
With the search aided by Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), also in Victoria’s east, and the 2 RAR Historical Collection in Townsville, it was discovered that Private Halliday was born in Scotland in 1927 and died in 2008.
He had initially served in the British Army and fought in the Malayan Emergency, which saw British and Commonwealth forces defeat a communist revolt in Malaya.
“The Malayan Emergency lasted 12 years, from 1948 to 1960, and it’s one of Australia’s forgotten campaigns. But we like to think there are no forgotten soldiers,” the Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL’s Paul Altimore said.
LRH Freedom of Information officer Deb McKeown also played a major role in uncovering the life and legacy of Private Halliday.
“I went about searching our records, and going back through our archives, and marrying up some of the information that Mr Altimore had given to me,” Ms McKeown said.
“In the medical records there was a photo of a Mr Halliday and it did become apparent that we had the same person.”
After being discharged in 1957, Private Halliday worked as a Melbourne tram driver.
In his spare time, Ms McKeown said the veteran barracked for Essendon and often enjoyed a glass of rosé.
“As I was learning more about him I felt I was getting to know him, and it was giving me some hope we could find someone alive who knew him,” she said.
“But this wasn’t the case.”
A fitting farewell
On April 16, former Australian Army serviceman Private William Halliday was given a military funeral, laid to rest in a plot donated by the Yarragon Lawn Cemetery Trust, next to his Lady.
The service attracted a large crowd, with people from across Victoria travelling to pay their respects.
“At the end of the day this is an Australian soldier so he should be treated with dignity,” Mr Altimore said.
After spending months searching for answers, Ms McKeown was longing to find someone who had a connection with the former digger.
Documents found Private Halliday had two siblings in Scotland and an older cousin living in Melbourne, but all were deceased.
“I’m emotional and very privileged to have played a part in having this man respectfully laid to rest. It’s closure,” Ms McKeown said.
“This is what he deserved. No-one would like to have their loved ones forgotten.”
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