Service Details
- Branch of Service
- Army
- Conflict
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Date of Enlistment
- 02/10/1941
- Date of Discharge
- 04/04/1946
- Place of Enlistment
- Paddington NSW
Personal Details
- Gender
- Male
- Date of Birth
- 05/03/1918
- Place of Birth
- Braidwood NSW
- Address (at enlistment)
- Causeway ACT
- School(s) Attended
- Telopea Park School
- Occupation
- Driver
- Next of Kin
- Harold Beadman (father), Causeway ACT
Unit and Rank Details
- Service Number
- NX48565
- Final Rank
- Trooper
- Final Unit
- 2/6 Armoured Regiment
Awards and Honours
BEM(C) - Order of the British Empire, Medal (Civil) / British Empire Medal (Civil)
Notes
Appears on the Canberra High School honour roll as W.J. Bladman. He was awarded the British Empire Medal - Civil (BEM(C)) on 2 March 1965 for his lifesaving efforts on Lake Burley Griffin.
He left school at 16 and eventually joined the Department of the Interior as a bus driver in 1934. He enlisted in 1941 and saw active service in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He married Gloria Cameron in 1947 at St. John's church in Reid.
Bill Beadman dominated the games of billiards and snooker in the ACT. He won his first ACT State billiards title in 1948 and went on to win another 18; the last in 1981. He also won 14 state snooker titles and regularly took part in exhibitions against Australian champions Horace Lindrum and Eddie Charlton. He considered turning professional but his job as a Commonwealth car driver paid more. He died on 1 March 2001.
Sources
The Yarralumlan : Magazine of the Canberra High School, 1945 (p.12)
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Australian honours http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours
ACTSPORT Hall of Fame http://www.actsport.com.au/index.php
The Canberra Times - 9 March 2001