WILLIS, Thomas Norman (1896-1917).JPG)
T N Willis (War Service).
Thomas Norman Willis was born at Kensington in 1896, the son of Joseph Bryan Willis and Annie Maria nee Sutterby, of Moolap, near Geelong. He was educated at Geelong College, entering the College from February until December 1910. He had previously been apupil at Moolap State School. On leaving school he took up pastoral pursuits. After experiencing station life in Queensland, he enlisted as a Private (2757) on 2 August 1916, and embarked for France with the 6th Reinforcement Group on
HMAT A71 Nestor on 2 October 1916. Here he qualified as a Signaller, and was promoted Lance Corporal with 57 Battalion two days before he was killed in action at Glencorse Wood on 26 September 1917, along with 39 of his battalion colleagues.
Pte G Grenda (of Pyengana, Tasmania) wrote to the Red Cross Information Bureau of Willis’s death:
‘Private Willis was one of my closest and best friends. He was killed on the 26th September 1917, although reported missing he was killed. I did not actually see it happen myself, but have it from first hand information. He was killed and buried at the same time and as no trace could be found of him he was reported missing. I believe L/Cpl Mulquinnie (of Tungamah and Melbourne) has sent you some information which will be quite correct. Pte Willis was about 5’ 11” in height, slim build, with rather sharp features. He left Australia on Oct 2nd 1916 with the 6th reinforcements of the 57th Battalion on the transport A71 (Nestor). His private address was Moolap, Geelong.’ His cousin, Pte Reginald Sutterby, who at that time was an AAMC Orderly at 1st Australian General Hospital, wrote to the Red Cross Information Bureau:
‘Tom Willis was my first cousin and was formerly in my Coy 57 Battn.A Coy. Geo Grenda wrote me about 2 months ago saying that Willis was missing. Since then I have had another letter telling me that Willis was detailed out on fatigue duty behind the lines in supports under very heavy shell fire. Search parties scoured the ground between the supports and the front line where they knew Willis’s party were. They were not found and Grenda reported him to me as blown to pieces. I do not know where this happened exactly as the news was sent to me by letter. I am sure Grenda would not have written this to me his cousin unless he was pretty sure it was the truth.’ He was aged 21 at the time of his death, and has no known grave - his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.’
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp120-121 (citing Pegasus August 1918; Australian War Memorial; W H Downing, To The Last Ridge (Bill Gammage’s introductory notes); Photo Pegasus August, 1918.)