Billy Sing

William Edward Sing DCM(1886-1943). Australian soldier of World War I. Born in Clermont Queensland in 1886 of Chinese ancestry, to John Sing (of Shanghai China) and Mary Anne Sing (nee Pugh) (of Stratford, England). Image File history File links Billy_sing. ... Image File history File links Billy_sing. ... The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was (until 1993) the second level military decoration awarded other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries. ... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul... Clermont is the name of several places in the United States of America: Clermont, Florida Clermont, Georgia Clermont, Indiana Clermont, Iowa Clermont, New York Clermont County, Ohio Clermont is the name of several communes in France: Clermont, in the Ariège département Clermont, in the Haute-Savoie département... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Shanghainese: ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world. ...

Sing was an Australian sniper of the Australian Imperial Force,who won international fame for his combat record during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915-1916. Looking through a USMC sniper rifle’s scope at a practice range at Camp Hansen The same USMC sniper team, with a M40 Sniper Rifle (2004) French Special Forces Sniping Team. ... The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from August 15, 1914, following Britains declaration of war on Germany. ... Combatants British Empire Australia India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom France Turkey (Ottoman Empire) Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Otto von Sanders Enver pasha Strength 5 divisions (initial) 14 divisions (final) 6 divisions The Battle of Gallipoli (sometimes referred to as the first D-Day) took place on the Turkish peninsula...

Prior to the war, Sing was well known for his skills as a kangaroo shooter, and as a competitive target shooter as a member of the Proserpine Rifle Club. Species Macropus rufus Macropus giganteus Macropus fuliginosus A kangaroo is any of several large macropods (the marsupial family that also includes the wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons and the Quokka: 63 species in all). ...

Two months after the outbreak of the war, Sing enlisted as a Trooper on October 24, 1914 in the Australian Fifth Light Horse Regiment of the Australian Imperial Force. A trooper (abbreviated Tpr. ... The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from August 15, 1914, following Britains declaration of war on Germany. ...

Serving as dismounted infantry in the Gallipoli campaign, Sing partnered with his spotter Ion "Jack" Idriess (later author of "Desert Column", "Cattle King", "Lassetter's Last Ride"), and later Tom Sheehan. Regimental records list Sing as having taken 150 confirmed 'kills'. However in October 23 1915, General William Birdwood, commander of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps issued an order complimenting Sing for his 201 unconfirmed 'kills'.^[1] In February 1916, Sing was Mentioned in Dispatches by Commander Allied Forces, Sir Ian Hamilton. On March 10th 1916, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Combatants British Empire Australia India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom France Turkey (Ottoman Empire) Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Otto von Sanders Enver pasha Strength 5 divisions (initial) 14 divisions (final) 6 divisions The Battle of Gallipoli (sometimes referred to as the first D-Day) took place on the Turkish peninsula... Lieutenant-General W.R. Birdwood near Hill 60, Gallipoli. ... An ANZAC soldier gives water to a wounded Turk The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (popularly abbreviated as ANZAC) was originally an army corps of Australian and New Zealand troops who fought in World War I at Gallipoli, in the Middle East and on the Western Front. ... Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. ... Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton (January 16, 1853 - October 12, 1947) was a general in the British Army and is most notably known for commanding the ill-fated Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Battle of Gallipoli. ... The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was (until 1993) the second level military decoration awarded other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries. ...

After the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula Sing transferred to the infantry in August 1916, joining the 31st Battalion of the Australian 5th Division and sailing for France for service on the Western Front. The Australian 5th Division was formed in February 1916, during the First World War as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force infantry brigades. ...

It is not clear as to whether Sing served as a sniper on the Western Front. However in September 1917, Sing led a unit in the Battle of Polygon Wood in counter sniper operations for which he was awarded the Oorlogskruis (Belgian Croix de Guerre). The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ...

On the Western Front, Sing was repeatedly wounded in action as well as being hospitalised for sickness and illness caused by old wounds. During one of these periods of convalescence, Sing met Elizabeth Stewart in Scotland , whom he married on June 29th 1917.

Sing returned to Australia in 1918 on submarine guard duty and was discharged from service in Australia on 28th November 1918. Sing died in 1943 in Brisbane. Brisbane (pronounced ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia, with a population of just under 2. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.lighthorse.org.au/Pershist/billsing.htm

National Archives of Australia. Digitial Records