The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Case
- First Name:
- William Cecil
- Nick Name:
- Bill
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX11584
- Company:
- 'C' Company
- Enlisted:
- 9.04.1941
- DOB:
- 6.02.1915
- Place of Birth:
- London, England
- Father's Name:
- William Frank Case
- Mothers's Name:
- Susan Case
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 27.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed In Action
- Place of Death:
- Hill 200, Ulu Pandan
- Date of Death:
- 12.02.1942
- Buried:
- Where killed at map reference 758128 by Major A. Cough Party on 21/12/1942.
- Return Details 1945:
- Where killed at map reference 758128 by Major A. Cough Party on 21.12. 1942.
General Description
Bill Case had been working at Manjimup several years before enlisting AIF 9 April 1941. He later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company. During the first days of fighting at Singapore, Bill was tragically KIA Hill 200, Ulu Pandan, Singapore 12 February 1942 aged 27 years.
Please read further about Hill 200, Ulu Pandan
__________
Eight year-old William Case (Jnr) departed London with his parents and two younger brothers on 6 December 1923 to sail to Western Australia as Assisted Migrants.
The Case family took up land offered by the Group Settlement Scheme at Northcliffe. They were at Group 150 and later moved to Group 100 around 1943. The family grew to number seven children, the eldest was Bill.
The few times a family member of the Case family are mentioned are notices regarding hospital. It is believed the 15 year old boy may have been Bill.
The Group Settlement farms at Northcliffe were singled out as being more challenging – in fact Northcliffe had several media write-ups about poor living standard, probably due to the unsuitability of the land.
Please read further about Group Settlement Farming.
In April 1941, Bill enlisted with AIF at Manjimup .
We believe the Case family left Northcliffe about 1943 to re-locate to Perth.
In 1947, Bill’s younger brother Christopher, aged 20 years drowned.
William and Susan Case endured some very tough years living at Northcliffe. It seems unfair two of their sons should die so young and tragically.
Susan died Aug 1971 aged 78 years and William died Apr 1972 aged 79 years. They were cremated at Karrakatta.
