Billy Sing

William Edward Sing
Born	William Edward Sing Template:Birth date Clermont, Australia
Died	May 19, 1943(1943-05-19) (aged 57) Brisbane, Australia
Other names	Billy Sing
Occupation(s)	Soldier, sniper, sheep farmer, gold miner
Years active	1914–1918 (military service)
Known for	Sniper in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I

William Edward Sing, DCM (3 March 1886 – 19 May 1943), commonly referred to as Billy Sing, was an Australian serviceman of mixed Chinese and English heritage who fought with the First Australian Imperial Force during World War I. He became renowned as a sniper throughout the Gallipoli Campaign, with confirmed kills numbering at least 150, and some sources suggesting figures nearing 300.

Throughout his military tenure, Sing received multiple commendations, including the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Belgian Croix de guerre. Near the war's conclusion, he married a Scottish woman; however, their union was brief. After returning to civilian life, Sing engaged in sheep farming and gold mining but ultimately passed away in modest circumstances and relative anonymity in Brisbane during World War II.

Early life

Born on 3 March 1886 in Clermont, Australia, Sing was the son of John Sing (circa 1842–1921), a drover originating from Shanghai, and Mary Ann Sing (née Pugh; circa 1857–unknown), an English nurse from Staffordshire. Prior to her marriage to John Sing, Mary Ann had a daughter, and the family later included another daughter named Beatrice. The children were raised on their farm and demonstrated strong academic performance.

Despite his exceptional marksmanship, Sing encountered racial discrimination amid widespread anti-Chinese attitudes in Australia at the time. His early employment included hauling timber, working as a stockman, and cutting sugarcane. Sing earned recognition for his shooting abilities both as a kangaroo hunter and competitive marksman, becoming a member of the Proserpine Rifle Club—a group partly supported by defence authorities to enhance shooting proficiency—where he frequently secured awards. Additionally, he possessed notable cricketing skills.

On 24 October 1914, just two months after the outbreak of World War I, Sing enlisted as a trooper in the Australian 5th Light Horse Regiment within the First Australian Imperial Force. His medical examination recorded his height at and weight at . Although military recruitment policies generally favored individuals of European descent, Sing was accepted after his Chinese ancestry was overlooked by an enlistment officer.

Gallipoli Campaign

Sing’s military involvement commenced with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey. According to biographer John Hamilton, the landscape provided ideal conditions for snipers due to opposing lines having clear visibility over each other. Initially, Sing worked alongside spotters Ion 'Jack' Idriess and later Tom Sheehan. These spotters scouted the terrain and identified targets for him. Idriess described Sing as "a little chap, very dark, with a jet black moustache and goatee beard... the crack shot of the Anzacs."

His first assignment as a sniper was at Chatham's Post, where he operated using a Lee–Enfield .303 rifle. Private Frank Reed recalled that Sing positioned himself so close to Turkish trenches that enemy artillery seldom targeted him directly. Reed identified three principal enemy locations within ranges of 350 to 1,000 yards that were under Sing’s surveillance. Reed also observed that Sing refrained from shooting stretcher-bearers or rescuers but remained relentless against opposing snipers. Conversely, Hamilton recounted an incident where Sing ended the suffering of an injured Turkish soldier by shooting him, illustrating his hardened disposition.

Sing’s success led Turkish forces to deploy an elite sniper known as 'Abdul the Terrible' specifically to neutralize him. Reports indicate that Turkish intelligence could distinguish shots fired by Sing from others and concentrated Abdul’s efforts on countering him. After studying injury patterns caused by Sing’s fire, Abdul pinpointed Sing’s location at Chatham's Post. When they eventually confronted one another, Sing fired first and killed Abdul. Shortly thereafter, Turkish artillery shelled Sing’s position heavily; both he and his spotter narrowly evaded harm.

In early August 1915, Sing was admitted to hospital for four days due to influenza. During that month, an enemy sniper wounded Sheehan in both hands and face while attempting to strike Sing’s shoulder; although Sing resumed duty within a week, Sheehan required evacuation back to Australia because of his injuries’ severity. This incident marked the only wound Sing sustained during his time at Gallipoli.

Sniping achievements

Sing's precision shooting at Gallipoli earned him the monikers "The Assassin" and "The Murderer" because of his relentless efficiency. By early September 1915, Brigadier-General Granville Ryrie had attributed 119 confirmed kills to him. Regimental documentation supports a total of 150 confirmed eliminations, while General William Birdwood, commander of the ANZAC forces, reported an additional 201 probable kills by October 1915. Officially recorded kills required verification from a spotter, which added significant risk to each shot as revealing the sniper’s location had to be avoided.

Major Stephen Midgely approximated Sing’s total kills at nearly 300. Midgely facilitated an introduction between Sing and Birdwood, who is said to have acted as Sing’s spotter and lauded his marksmanship to Lord Kitchener, proposing that such sharpshooting skills might accelerate the Allied victory.

In February 1916, General Sir Ian Hamilton formally mentioned Sing in Despatches, marking his initial official commendation. On 10 March 1916, Sing was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for "conspicuous gallantry" during operations at Anzac between May and September 1915, recognized for both his bravery and high enemy casualties inflicted. His wartime exploits were also covered in contemporary British and American press.

Service on the Western Front

In late November 1915, Sing was admitted aboard the HMHS Gloucester Castle suffering from myalgia before being transferred to medical facilities in Malta and Ismaïlia, Egypt. While recovering in Egypt, he also contracted parotitis and mumps but managed to return to active duty by March 1916. Australian troops, including Sing, frequently visited Egypt’s red light districts; this contributed to significant disturbances in 1915 due to inflated prices.

On 27 July 1916 at Tel-el-Kibir, Sing was reassigned to the 31st Infantry Battalion and departed for England the following month. After completing further training there, he commenced frontline service on the Western Front in January 1917. Throughout this period, he sustained multiple injuries and earned several commendations from Allied leadership. In March 1917, he was hospitalized in England with a leg wound. During convalescence in Scotland in May 1917, he met Elizabeth A. Stewart and married her in Edinburgh on 29 June 1917.

Sing returned to France in August 1917; however, ongoing wounds and exposure to poison gas weakened his condition. Although it remains uncertain if he continued sniper duties on the Western Front, he took charge of counter-sniper efforts during the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917. For his role there, he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1918 and was recommended for the Military Medal—an award he ultimately did not receive. Early 1918 saw further hospital stays due to leg complications and a gunshot wound to his back. His military service was ultimately curtailed by lung disease resulting from gas exposure.

Return to civilian life

Sing resumed submarine guard duties in Australia by late July 1918. A medical assessment from November 1918 documented gunshot injuries to his left shoulder, back, and leg, alongside gas exposure. Although his overall health was classified as good, he experienced coughing during physical activity. The evaluation confirmed that his impairments were permanent and directly linked to his military service, recommending his discharge as permanently unfit for duty. Following his army departure, Sing briefly engaged in sheep farming on infertile land before transitioning to gold mining work.

In November 1918, Sing sought free passage for his wife to relocate from Scotland to Queensland. Despite approval being granted, Elizabeth stayed in Edinburgh, where she bore two children: Mary Millar Stewart (1919) and Theodore Mark Malmborg (1923). She eventually settled in New South Wales with her partner Malmborg and their offspring. Records suggest that Sing and Elizabeth never legally divorced.

Later life and death

During his later years, Sing endured pain in his chest, back, and heart. In 1942, he relocated from Miclere to Brisbane to reduce living expenses and found employment as a labourer. He passed away alone in a boarding house in West End on 19 May 1943 due to a ruptured aorta. At the time of his death, his belongings were sparse—a mining claim hut valued at approximately £20 and five shillings in cash. His World War I medals were absent, and he was owed nearly £6 in unpaid wages.

Sing was interred at Lutwyche War Cemetery in Kedron, Brisbane. His gravestone commemorates him as a Distinguished Conduct Medal awardee and acknowledges him as Australia’s most proficient marksman/sniper during World War I, credited with over 150 confirmed kills. His sharpshooting skills played a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of fellow soldiers throughout the conflict.

Legacy

A bronze plaque was installed by the Queensland Military Historical Society at 304 Montague Road, South Brisbane, marking the site of Sing’s death. In 1995, a statue honoring him was unveiled in Clermont, his birthplace. In 2004, an Australian Army sniper team stationed in Baghdad named their post the 'Billy Sing Bar & Grill.' On 19 May 2009—the 66th anniversary of Sing’s passing—the Chinese Consul-General Ren Gongping joined Returned and Services League officials and community representatives to lay wreaths at his gravesite. Ren emphasized Sing as a symbol of the vital contributions made by Chinese Australians and highlighted the enduring alliance between China and Australia throughout both world wars.

Sing’s story is chronicled in Laws and Stewart’s There's always more to the story (2006) and is thoroughly examined in Hamilton’s Gallipoli Sniper: The life of Billy Sing (2008), which includes an exploration of sniper tactics at Gallipoli and their influence on the campaign. Reviewer John Wadsley praised Hamilton’s adept use of available sources despite limited direct documentation.

As of 2010, a television mini-series titled The Legend of Billy Sing was in post-production. Although some reports linked it to Hamilton’s book, the author was not involved in its development. The production sparked debate over casting actors of European descent for roles portraying Sing and his father—both of Chinese heritage. Director Geoff Davis defended these choices by underscoring Sing’s Australian cultural identity and criticized detractors for claiming ownership over his narrative. Politician Bill O'Chee highlighted the necessity for authentic representation.

Hamilton characterized Sing as "a cold-blooded killer ... [yet] a man with a sense of humour ... the Anzac angel of death," while Laws and Stewart acknowledged him among numerous Australians of Chinese descent who served with distinction during World War I. Approximately 400 Australians with Chinese heritage enlisted in military forces throughout the twentieth century.

To mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, a monument was erected near Sing’s grave at Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane. This memorial was established by the 31st Battalion Association Brisbane Branch with assistance from local historical organizations and Chinese community groups and unveiled on the anniversary of his death.

Each year shortly before Anzac Day (25 April), the William 'Billy' Sing Memorial Shooting Competition takes place at North Arm Rifle Range on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Competitors use Lee Enfield military rifles to shoot targets several hundred metres away; the top scorer receives the William 'Billy' Sing Memorial Trophy.

See also

• Caleb Shang
• History of Chinese Australians
• White Australia policy

Notes

a. Another Australian serviceman named William Sing also participated in World War I.

b. Sing's father was alternatively identified as Richard Sing. His paternal grandfather bore the name See Sing. His mother emigrated to Australia in 1881. On his maternal side, grandparents were John Pugh, who worked as a clerk, and Mary Ann Pugh (née Pearson).

c. An official extract indicates Sing's father had passed away prior to his marriage, although Hamilton records his death as occurring in 1921, four years later.

d. According to historian Alastair Kennedy (2009), medical documents from 1917 diagnosed Sing with venereal disease followed by syphilis. Kennedy proposes that Elizabeth Sing may have terminated their marriage after receiving this information.

e. The inscription "Croux De Guerre" can be found on Sing's gravestone.

f. Director Geoff Davis of the mini-series stated he was unable to locate a Chinese actor aged around 60 to portray Sing's father; however, Chinese Australian actors Warren Lee and Tony Chu challenged this claim. SBS reported that Davis mentioned no Chinese actors responded to requests for unpaid or deferred payment roles. Josh Davis, the director’s son, was cast in the role of Sing. Tony Bonner assumed the role of Sing’s father. This casting dispute attracted international media attention in countries including Canada, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.