HARVEY, Billy

Billy Harvey was a promising defender and half-forward from Ararat, who played in nine games in 1912.

He had recently finished his five-year apprenticeship as a carpenter, but wasted no time in enlisting when World War I broke out, joining the 1st AIF on 25th August, 1914, with the low service number of 106. He was later transferred to the 1st Australian Pioneers.

He had served part-time in the Territorial Engineers before the War which, no doubt, helped his rapid rise through the ranks, becoming a corporal almost immediately, then sergeant in August 1915, 2nd lieutenant in March 1916, and finally captain in August 1916.

He was awarded the Military Cross in October 1916 and the citation read: " For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He commanded working parties every night under heavy shell fire. On one occasion, while carrying forward a trench, he captured 12 unwounded prisoners. He has done other fine work."

He was killed by shell fire on 14th September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele and is buried at Belgian Battery Corner, near Ypres. It was just two weeks before his 25th birthday.