WILLS, Norbert Vincent
| Service Number: | 31241 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Paddington, New South Wales, Australia, 18 September 1895 |
| Home Town: | Paddington, Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrical Mechanic |
| Died: | Kincumber, New South Wales, Australia, 19 August 1976, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 31241, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 1916: | Involvement Driver, 31241, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 19 Dec 1916: | Embarked Driver, 31241, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, RMS Orontes, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Norbert Vincent Wills, born in 18 September 1895 to James Patrick Wills and Jessie Macdonnell attended Sydney Technical Highschool in 1911 and resided in Paddington.(1) Norbert Vincent Wills had enlisted to the military on the 8th of October 1916 at the age of 21. Norbert had two sisters and also a brother whose names were Bertha V Wills, Mildred Wills and John Michael Joseph Wills.(2) He most likely joined the Army as he wanted to help the country in a patriotic manner and most men his age were joining the war. Before World War One, Norbert had attended Sydney technical High School and worked as an Electrical Mechanic after and was Roman Catholic.(3)
Norbert was appointed as a driver during the war with the service number 31241 and his job would be to deliver resources around. His embarkation was on the 8th of October 1916 and he was a part of the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column where their main duty was to supply mainly ammunition such as bullets or weapons.(4)
Once Norbert returned to Australia on the 16th of June 1919, and married Doris Isabel Tipper on the 5th of September 1936. He had 2 children, Valerie Doris Wills and Clifford Norbert Wills. However, in 1920, Norbert was sued by Linda Agnes Proctor for the breach of marriage, as she claims that she was engaged to Norbert before he went off to war. She claims that during his time in France he sent her a letter suggesting they break off the engagement as he had lost feelings, but after the war he thinks they should continue their love as it was before(7).
He passed away on the 19th of August 1976 at the age of 80 is commemorated at Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park.(8)
Norbert Vincent Wills bravely participated in World War One, as a driver delivering resources such as ammunition and took part in countless battles, showing his brave mentality and nobility while also displaying the ANZAC values of courage, mateship, endurance, sacrifice and ingenuity. He peacefully passed away at the age of 80 on the 19th of August 1976.
Bibliography:
https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/norbert-vincent-wills-24-qlj1ht
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195355629
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/74917
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8855297&isAv=N
https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/126
https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/5th_Division_Ammunition_Column
Endnotes:
1. Virtual Australian War Memorial.
2. Norbert Vincent Wills - Research on drive
3. Virtual Australian War Memorial.
4. Virtual Australian War Memorial.
5. 5th Division Ammunition Column Birtwistlewiki
6. Norbert Vincent Wills - Research on drive
7.Ibid
8. Ibid