Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I know little of his life before, during or after the army so I will write what I have discovered, to show the human side of my Dad.

The life of Herbert Edward Willis is sketchy, but from research has shown him to have had quite a hard and probably confusing life. He was born 4 July 1920, not 1919 as stated on his service records. 

His birth name was Henry Edward Roser, his father German. His grandparents German, arriving in Australia in 1859 aboard the Solon barque with 6 children.

His parents separated and his mother Edith Willis (nee Beard, aka Roser/Benstead), changed his name to Edward Henry Willis according to his school entry at Buranda Boys school.

Growing up he enlisted in the army for WWII and changed his name to Herbert Edward Willis. It is not known if he changed his name to enlist or if it was changed earlier in his life. The unravelling of his life is still in the process. I did not know my father for 20 years of my life, or his birth identity for 63 years of my life.

Herbert was assigned to the 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion and served in both the Middle East and New Guinea. He was often sick, and needing treatment during his service. He was cautioned in regard to his behaviour on one occasion, which occured after his return from the Middle East. I can only assume he went on a bender and got himself drunk.

New Guinea proved to be his undoing mentally, on his return to Australia it was told to me by a relative that on learning he was being sent back for a second tour of New Guinea my father left the army and not long after was with the Merchant Seaman. Today the people I have contacted in regard to his 'discharged absentee', have said maybe he was seconded to the Merchant Seaman after treatment, due to what we now know as PTSD. 

There is a book on the battalion named Muzzle Blast which I have purchased to learn more about the battalion and my father, the soldier. 

Merchant Seaman, Edward Henry Willis was for the most part, the chief cook on the ships he served on. He remained in this profession until he retired in the 1970s. His conduct during his service in the Merchant Navy was impeccable, he had found his niche in life.

He married Hazel Mary Healey (nee Grogan adopted at birth) on 23 October 1944 in Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. Both gave their address as Oakey Flat Road, Morayfield, Queensland, Australia. Were they living together, or neighbours, this is unknown.
 
He was awarded numerous medals which he did not claim. After much digging I was granted permission to order them, and they are now in my possession, his daughter Sharyn Elizabeth Willis. They will pass down to my son, who also served in the armed forces. 

The medals are: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp. Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Australian Service Medal 1939-1945, Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with Clasp VIETNAN, Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal.

From what is learned he went by the nickname Ted all his adult life and I suppose this stopped him having to remember what name he used at the time. 

Edward as he was now known and Hazel Healey (nee Grogan/adopted) went on to have 5 children. Garry Lee, Michael John, Mark Francis, Sharyn Elizabeth and Jennifer May. 

The marriage failed in 1962 when he left the family home. My grandmother Mary Elizabeth Healey had come to live with us and the eldest child, Garry recalls that it was her that drove the wedge in their marriage. 

Hazel died in 1981 prompting a search for him to let him know that she had passed away. They had never divorced and I felt he had the right to know.

The Newcastle police located him for me, and i gave him a phone call to let him know and to arrange a visit. I knocked on his door. He proudly showed me off to his neighbours saying, 'this is my daughter'. I think we were both excited.

The next visit I took some photos to show him. We were sitting on a bench in the shopping area, and he cried as I showed him ones of Mum. I think he still loved her after 25 years of not seeing her. He asked to keep the photos which I happily gave him.

1991 and my Dad breathed his last breath. Senility had stolen his brain, and ulcers one of his legs. The other was going to be removed but sadly his heart could no longer take the battering.

He was cremated 10 years to the day Mum died. His funeral was very small as the other immediate family members only went for my benefit. His only possession was a brown suitcase with some personal items in it, and my photos. Some of the items are his Seaman papers and badges, a dressing gown, and an address book.

Whether he left the army the wrong way or was seconded is irrelevant to me, as he is still a hero who fought to save this country