William Joseph WILLIS

WILLIS, William Joseph

Service Number: 4888
Enlisted: 7 August 1915
Last Rank: Gunner
Last Unit: 5th Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 1892
Home Town: Cessnock, Cessnock, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Miner
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 6 October 1917
Cemetery: Birr Cross Roads Cemetery
II A 14,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

7 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4888, 1st Infantry Battalion
8 Mar 1916: Involvement Private, 4888, 1st Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
8 Mar 1916: Embarked Private, 4888, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney
6 Oct 1917: Involvement Gunner, 4888, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4888 awm_unit: 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-10-06

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Joseph and Jessie WILLIS, Cessnock, New South Wales

Gnr. W. J. WILLIS. — Gnr. W. J. Willis, aged 25, was killed in action on September 6. He was the oldest son of Gnr. Joe Willis, who has since returned home. He was carrying despatches for the last nine months from the Brigade Headquarters in France. Two brothers are on active service. Gnr. Willis was a member of the Cessnock Town Band, and was a miner, and worked at Abermain No. 2. 

LATE GUNNER W.J. WILLIS
Gunner W. J. Willis, aged 25, son of ex-Gunner and Mrs. Willis, was killed in action on September 6. He left New South Wales about two years ago, and was attached to the 5tfh Brigade Artillery. For the past nine months he had been despatch carrying. He was a grandson of Mrs. Willis of Hindmarsh, and was a first-class musician. Prior to the war he was a miner in one of the mines outside Cessnock. Two of his brothers are on active service.

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