Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Also served in WW1

46 Battalion

Rank Private

Medala: British War Medal, Citory Medal

26 September 1919 - Returned to Australia on board Port Denison

MURDERED SOLDIER MYSTERY GEELONG, 2 June 1942:

There were no new developments today in the investigation into the murder of Driver Arthur Roy Willis, 44, on a lonely road at Wallington, 12 miles from Geelong and 7 miles from his camp about 2.45am on Friday.

The entire squad of detectives engaged on the inquiry concentrated today in tracing Willis's movements from 1.?8am. when he was seen at East Geelong tram terminus, and 2.45am, when shots were heard near where his body was found at 8.30am. Det-Sgt F. Lyon, who has charge of the homicide squad, said tonight that some helpful information had been obtained concerning Willis's movements, but anyone who could throw additional light on the matter should communicate with him at Geelong Police Station. He was also anxious to hear from anyone who could give information on any of Willis's activities in the last few weeks. It has been established that Willis had been to a party in Orchard st. Geelong, and left there in a taxi and arrived at the tram terminus, a mile from Geelong, at 1.?8am. He was to have been met there, but it is a mystery whether he had been driven in a motor vehicle from that point to where his body was found, or if he had walked some of the way and had been given a lift. If Willis had walked the 11 miles to where his body was found it would account for the lapse of time between his last known movement and the time he is believed to have died. If he had travelled by a motor vehicle it would have taken only about 20 minutes, and the time could have been occupied by waiting for the transport which he told the taxi driver he had arranged. Police discount the theory that he walked the distance, and assume that a vehicle will be concerned in the final solution. On that assumption, and the possibility that Willis could have been shot in the vehicle and again when he was pushed from the vehicle as indicated by the initial impression when the body was found. Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw or heard any vehicles on the Queenscliff, Lakes, or the Wallington—Ocean Grove Roads early on Friday morning to give details.

When Willis's body was found there were powder marks on his tunic and surrounding some of the shot wounds, indicating that he had been shot at close range, by a revolver, possibly of .45 calibre. If revenge or jealousy had been motives it is not likely that the murderer would have waited on the lonely road in expectation of meeting Willis there.

4 June 1942 SEARCH FOR CLUES IN GEELONG MURDER GEELONG:

Intense police inquiries today into the mystery death of Driver Arthur Roy Willis, 44, on a lonely road at Wallington early on Friday, failed to provide any clues and a stalemate has been reached.
However, detectives under Det-Sgt F. Lyon have received certain information which has encouraged them to persist in their inquiries into the lapse of time between 1.?8am, when Willis was last known by police to have been seen, and 2.45am, when he is believed to have been shot in the head and abdomen. They have not relaxed their inquiries into the movements of vehicles on the Queenscliff Lakes and Wallington- Ocean Grove Roads on the morning of Willis's death.

Anyone who saw or heard motor vehicles, mllitary or private, early on Friday is asked to contact the CIB at Geelong.

17 December 1942

MURDER OF SOLDIER UNSOLVED
Coroner's Finding at GEELONG:

After hearing 21 witnesses, Mr E. J. Haynes, Deputy Coroner, today found that Arthur Roy Willis, 44, military driver, formerly of Casterton, had been murdered by some person unknown on May 29.
Willis's body was found on the side of the Ocean Grove road, Walling- ton, with 4 bullet wounds, and indications were that some of the bullets had been fired while he was lying on the ground.
Dr. C. H. Mollison said that death was due to haemorrhage from a wound in the abdomen. The bullet had entered from the back. Evidence was given that Miss Norma G. Pretlove, on holidays
from Casterton, met Willis by accident in Geelong on May 28, and as a result he was introduced to Mrs Linda E. Black and Mrs Mary D. Skepper, both of Orchard st. In conversation with the women Willis had made it clear that he was to be at the tram terminus at 2am next morning to obtain a ride to the camp. He mentioned the name Green to Mrs Skepper, but she could not say whether it referred to an old soldier mate or to the person who was to pick him up. Willis spent portion of the evening at Mrs Black's house, then went out with Miss Pretlove, returned by taxi to Mrs Black's, and arranged to be picked up by a taxi at 1am to be taken to East Geelong tram terminus. Mrs Vera E. Ward, Point Lonsdale, said that a soldier named Green parked his car at her place. On May 29 Green, when putting his car away, mentioned that he had told Willis he would pick him up, but he had not seen anything of him, and came on. "TOO CROOK TO EAT" Garnet Kinsman, military driver, said he saw Green in bed on the Friday morning, and Green had stated that he got back to camp between 5 and 6 am and was "too crook" to have breakfast. Greenwas still drunk. He said he had not seen Willis. Witness was questioned as to differences, between his evidence and statements made to the police, and at the conclusion Mr Haynes said he regarded witness's evidence as unsatisfactory. Michael Curran Green, military driver, said that on May 28 he drove his car to Melbourne. Willis had told him he had leave and was not sure what time he would be returning to camp. He had told Willis he would not be back before 2am or later than 6am, and that if Willis was on the main road he would be welcome to a lift. There was no definite arrangement and he did not mention the tram termnus as a meeting place. He did not leave Melbourne till late, and at Geelong took a wrong turn and did not pass the tram terminus. He knew the police were seeking the driver of a truck who was supposed to have arranged to meet Willis, but he had not volunteered information. Mr A. J. B. Aird appeared to assist the coroner; Mr P. D. F. O'Keefe for Mesdames Black, and Skepper, and Miss Pretlove. An inquiry into the death of Pte

John Joseph Hulston, 19, who was shot while on sentry duty on September 1, was formally opened and adjourned until the next day. It has been suggested that Hulston was killed to stop him giving evidence in the Willis Coroner Inquriy

in 2008 neither murder had been solved