Thos. H. Wills
History
Thomas Henry Wills was born at Sebastopol on 03 March 1899 his family to William Wills and Annie Maria Roberts. The Wills family lived in Clarkson Street, and the children attended the Redan State School. Thomas Wills lied at the time of his enlistment and was just 16. He was appointed an acting corporal with the Provost Staff in November and spent the next six months in England. On 22 May 1917, the now 17 year old Tom reverted to the rank of private and joined the 6th Infantry Battalion at Baizieux, west of Albert, where the battalion was training having recently come out of the line following the Second Battle of Bullecourt (3-17 May 1917). He received shrapnel wounds to his right arm and back. While recovering in hospital he met Sister Isabel Curnow in the hospital, the daughter of Thomas Curnow, of the Urquhart Street State School. Tom Curnow's claim to fame was as the schoolteacher who stopped the train at Glenrowan during the Kelly Gang siege. [1]
Returning to the front at the end of February 1918, Tom rejoined the 6th Battalion and on 08 August 2018, the 6th Battalion were position at Lihons. Thomas Wills was woundeded twice that day. A gunshot wound to his left thigh was severe enough to send him back to England, where he was still recovering when the war ended.[2]
Tom Wills was struck down with pneumonic influenza during the voyage home to Australia in February 1919 Tom developed pneumonic influenza. On arriving in Port Phillip Bay it was he was too sick to be transferred to the quarantine station at Portsea and he remained on the ship as it continued on to Sydney onboard SS Ceramic. He survived to take up Soldier Settlement land in the Mallee district, marrying Ballarat's Alice Mary Hancock on 21 April 1921. They made their home at Ouyen where they raised their family.[3]
Tom Wills died at Ouyen on 3 July 1992, aged 93.[4]
Legacy
The World War One service recognised on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/GreatWarBallarat/photos/a.1435513539828250.1073741828.1415606998485571/1587452187967717/?type=3&theater, accessed 27 July 2017.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/GreatWarBallarat/photos/a.1435513539828250.1073741828.1415606998485571/1587452187967717/?type=3&theater, accessed 27 July 2017.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/GreatWarBallarat/photos/a.1435513539828250.1073741828.1415606998485571/1587452187967717/?type=3&theater, accessed 27 July 2017.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/GreatWarBallarat/photos/a.1435513539828250.1073741828.1415606998485571/1587452187967717/?type=3&theater, accessed 27 July 2017.
Further Reading
External links
--Beth Kicinski 19:07, 24 August 2013 (EST);--Clare K.Gervasoni 15:00, 27 July 2017 (AEST)