Soldier profiles
Name : STEELE, WILLIAM JOHN
Service Number : NX200392
Date of Birth : 15/05/1910
Place of Birth : BELFAST, IRELAND
Known as : JOCK, BILL
Occupation on Enlistment : CHAPLAIN
Date of Enlistment : 31/03/1943
Locality on Enlistment : GLEN DAVIS, NSW
Place of Enlistment : PADDINGTON, NSW
Next of Kin : STEELE, WILLIAM
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : CAPTAIN
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : 2/2 PIONEER BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) : CHAPLAIN BATTALION HEADQUARTERS (DAEO, MOROTAI)
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War : BORNEO
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 18/03/1946
Date Died : ??/08/2004
Age at Death : 94
Community Roll of Honour : N/A
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : N/A
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : NO
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. Camps (details) : N/A
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : N/A
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : NO
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 5584136 [OPEN]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial, AWM_090611.jpg, 2/2 Pioneers Newsletter 12/2004 p1
Background : Bill immigrated to Australia in 1928. He candidated for the Methodist Ministry in 1936 and, after study, and various work experience, was ordained in 1942. He then offered his services as a chaplain and served with the 2nd AIF. After the war his ministry was varied, both in country areas of NSW and later in the inner city of Sydney. He returned to country areas of NSW where he continued to be both innovative and creative in his all his ministry work, supported by Kathleen. He retired from full-time ministry in 1977 but continued to accept supernumerary positions in both Australia and New Zealand. Husband of Kathleen.
