Second World War Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 - Private William Dormer Halligan Jolly
Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 - NX56654 W. H. JOLLY
Private William Dormer Halligan Jolly (NX56654) was born on 15 November 1899 in Monghyr, Bengal, India, the eldest son of William Thomas Halligan Jolly and Louisa Carolina Jolly (née Haslett). His father was an English engineer, and the family had longstanding ties to India dating back to the era of the Indian Mutiny. The Jolly family later emigrated to Australia, settling first in Griffith, New South Wales, and later at Morundah, where William lived with his parents and younger brothers Tom, Jack, and Bernard.
Before the war, William worked in Griffith and later lived at Milsons Point, Sydney, with his mother. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 6 July 1940, joining the 2/18th Battalion, 2nd A.I.F., part of the 22nd Brigade, 8th Australian Division.
The 2/18th Battalion was raised in New South Wales and trained at Ingleburn before embarking for overseas service aboard the Queen Mary in February 1941, bound for Singapore. The battalion was stationed in Malaya to strengthen British Commonwealth defences against the increasing Japanese threat.
In December 1941, Japan launched its invasion of Malaya, and the 2/18th saw its first major action at the Battle of Muar and Bakri in January 1942, where Australian and Indian troops fought stubbornly against overwhelming Japanese forces. Despite inflicting heavy casualties, the 2/18th suffered severe losses during the retreat to Singapore.
Private Jolly was killed in action on 20 January 1942, during the fierce fighting in Malaya, likely in the Muar–Parit Sulong sector, one of the bloodiest engagements of the campaign. He was 42 years old.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore (Plot 6, Row B, Grave 3). His headstone bears the inscription:
"TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF A BELOVED SON AND GALLANT SOLDIER."
William’s death was reported in the Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW) on 26 February 1942, which noted that he was “a native of India” and that his family had a proud record of military service, with one brother serving with the A.I.F. in Palestine, another operating a business in Leeton, and a third working in munitions.
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