William Joseph Willis

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 19/09/2015 - 12:42

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Joseph

Last Name:

Willis

Mother's Name:

Jessie (nee Bird)

Father's Name:

Joseph Willis

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, August 7, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Gunner

Unit:

5th Artillery Brigade

Company:

13th Battery

Service:

Artillery

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, October 6, 1916

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in Action

Details:

William Willis (Service No 4888) was born in Wollongong, NSW in 1892. At the time of enlistment he was a single 23 year old miner. He embarked on HMAT A15 Star of England with 15th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion on 8th March 1916 but was transferred to 53rd Battalion in Egypt on 20th April 1916. After arriving in France he was transferred to 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column on 14th August 1916. Later, on 25th January 1917 he was transferred to 37th Battery, 5th Brigade Artillery. This transfer put him in the same unit as his father Private Joseph Willis(Service No 9437) .

William was in the Officers Mess kitchen at Brigade Headquarters on 6th October 1917 when, at approximately, 7 30pm a shell came through and exploded, killing him instantly. He is buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Plot III, Row A, Grave 14 Zillebeke Belgium.

His Father enlisted in November 1915 stating he was a married 44 year old miner and served in France, but was returned to Australia in March 1917 and discharged as medically unfit and overage on 15th June 1917. He had been 48 years old on enlistment.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WILLIS WILLIAM JOSEPH