Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur was the fifth of six children of William (Sonny) Henry Willey (b1875 in Beverley, WA) and Edith Mary Grover (b1906 in Beverley, WA). Sonny (a Farmer at Windemarry) and Edith married in 1906 in Beverley WA where they raised their family and Sonny was a Farmer.

Arthur was a Labourer in Beverley WA when he enlisted in the ACMF in 1941 (Private; Service No:W22097). He was attached to 7 Heavy Brigade in July 1942 when he transferred to the AIF (Service No:WX30655). Arthur had eight and a half years continuous service in the Australian Army (ACMF: 2 July 1941 - 18 July 1942; AIF: 19 July 1942 - 30 June 1947; IA: 1 July 1947 - 9 December 1949). He was a Sergeant attached to BCB Workshops when he was Discharged in 1949. In December 2000, the Secretary of the RSL Beverley Sub Branch wrote to the Army Medals Section on Arthur's behalf, stating '... because he never returned from a 'war zone' thought he did not qualify as an RSL member' and seeking medals Arthur was awarded (National Archives Australia).

Returning from two and a half years continuous service in Japan, Arthur settled in Beverley, living with his father - his mother had died in 1941 - where he worked as a Labourer. Following his father's death in 1955, Arthur moved to Pingelly WA where he worked as a Linesman until he retired in 1985. Arthur returned to Beverley, where he died in 2008.