Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter Morris Bills was born on the 7th of June 1890 in a small town roughly 280km from north of Adelaide, Orroroo in South Australia. His father was named Josiah Bills, who lived from September 11, 1855 to September 26, 1923, he died at the age of 68. His mother was named Elizabeth Morris Bills, she lived from November 27, 1859 to April 04, 1930 (70). Walters mother was also his next of kin when he joined the army. Walter was one of 8 children, his siblings were, Albert Henry 1881-1953, James 1882-1946, Frank 1884-1943, Agnes (Barratt) 1886-1965, Lewis John 1888-1942, Helen Ivy (Marshall) 1892-1963, Edgar 1895-1952. Walter Morris Bills was Christian, and he did not marry prior to enlistment. Before Walter had gone to war he had a short career as a dentist. Walter enlisted in Adelaide on the 17th of September 1915, when he was 25 years old and 2 months. On his enlistment documents it is stated that he was 5’11 (180cm) with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Walter Morris Bills enlisted, on the 17/9/15, where only a few days later he was appointed Corporal. Records are unclear of how Walter spent his first few months in the AIF but on January 16th, 1916 he was a part of a 2nd depot battalion training and very shortly after that on the 01/02/16 all the way through to the 16/03/16 he attended the Mitcham army camp, which is located in Mitcham South Australia. It was stated on his service records that on the 01/06/16 his battalion, the 27th, worked with the 14th battalion although only roughly a month later he was moved to the 50th battalion. The 50th battalion was already in France, they arrived there on the 11th of June 1916. 12/08/16, Walter was embarked for service to the 50th battalion. Walter embarked on the HMAT Ballarat on the 17/08/16 and was demoted to Private, although it was not long before he was again promoted up the ranks to Sergeant and then Corporal. 

Early 1917, the 2nd of April, Walter and the 50th battalion participated in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and attacked at Noreuil. A few months later, the focus of AIF operations moved to Belgium. There he was involved in the battle of Messines between 7 and 12 June. Walter didn’t have many absences although on the 22/11/17 he was hospitalised for roughly three months, while in France because he had what was called a Rheumatic fever. Luckily he recovered well and went back into his full-time duties.

The 50th Battalion had assisted in the repulse of the largest German attack mounted against Australian troops during the war, this was on the 5th of April 1918, couple months after Walter was no longer on leave due to illness. The 50th Battalion continued to play an active role during the Allies' own offensive in August 1918 and his last major operation of the war was the attack on the Hindenburg outpost line on the 18th of September 1918. 

Walter returned to Australia after the war and was discharged March 23, 1920 at the age of 29. Overall Walter had been overseas for a total of 1 year and 10 months and spent most of this time with an officer rank.

 After Walters experience in the war he moved back to his home town and started a new life. He had become the husband of Rubina Juanita (Bradtke) Bills, they got married on the 20 Dec 1922 in Yongala, South Australia, the couple even had three kids together. Donald Fairlie Bills, Keith Morris Bills, Ian Maynard Bills were all his children’s names. Walter continued his career as a dentist after the war for majority of his life.

On 19th of February 1953 he died, at the age of 62. No cause of death was been discovered. His grave is placed at Peterborough Cemetery, which is approximately 36km from his home town and his other family members had been buried there too.

References

Elizabeth Morris
geni_family_tree. (n.d.). Elizabeth Morris. [online] Available at: https://www.geni.com/people/Elizabeth-Morris/6000000005250125159  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Josiah Bills.
geni_family_tree. (n.d.). Josiah Bills. [online] Available at: https://www.geni.com/people/Josiah-Bills/6000000005250016256  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Walter Morris Bills
www.wikitree.com. (n.d.). Walter Morris Bills (1890-1953) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bills-1221  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Walter Morris BILLS.
vwma.org.au. (n.d.). Walter Morris BILLS. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/231048 [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Lieutenant Walter Morris Bills
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). Lieutenant Walter Morris Bills. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10822397  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
.Josiah Bills
www.findagrave.com. (n.d.). Josiah Bills (1855-1923) - Find a Grave Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176150704/josiah-bills  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Walter Morris Bills
sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au. (n.d.). Walter Morris Bills | South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau. [online] Available at: https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/eyewitness/walter-morris-bills   [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
The Australian War Memorial
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51490.

 
The Australian War Memorial
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51467.

 
Mitcham Army Camp
Anon, (n.d.). Mitcham Army Camp | Places | A World Away | South Australia’s War. [online] Available at: https://southaustraliaswar.history.sa.gov.au/places/mitcham-army-camp/#:~:text=The%20camp%20accommodated%20over%204%2C000  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Walter Morris Bills
www.findagrave.com. (n.d.). Walter Morris Bills (1890-1953) - Find a Grave... [online] Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201871814/walter-morris-bills  [Accessed 11 May 2023].

 
Bills Walter Morris : SERN LIEUT.
National Archives of Australia. (1914). Bills Walter Morris : SERN LIEUT. [online] Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx? [Accessed 11 May 2023].