William was born in Bacchus Marsh, VIC in 1889 to Alfred John James Pezet and Rebecca Holt. Alfred died in 1892 and Rebecca married John Burbidge in 1902.

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William was a grocer when he enlisted at Euroa, VIC in the AIF, 7^th Battalion, C Company on the 18^th of August 1914, aged 24 - he had previously served in the Cadets. He embarked aboard the HMAT A20 Hororata in October, disembarking in Egypt in December.

In early April 1915 William transferred to Battalion Headquarters before embarking to join the Gallipoli campaign. He marched in to Mex, Egypt - near Cairo - in May and transferred to Maadi, Egypt - near Alexandria - in November. He re-joined his unit in January 1916 and embarked from Alexandria in March, disembarking at Marseilles, France a few days latter.

William was admitted to a Field Ambulance in June 1916, for three weeks, suffering from synovitis. In March 1917 he was admitted to hospital for two months suffering from rheumatism. After being discharged from hospital William was promoted to Acting Sergeant and employed as a company clerk before reverting to Driver and rejoining his unit in July. He was granted three weeks leave in England in February 1918 before he embarked aboard the Taranto, in September, disembarking in Australia aboard the Devon in November where he was met at the railway station⁽¹⁾ by Shire President Kerr and several citizens with motor cars. The procession made its way to the Mechanics Institute where a formal welcome was tendered. William was discharged from the AIF in January 1919.

William died in July 1968 aged 79.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. The Bacchus Marsh Express 30 Nov 1918