Private Percy Willis
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 3147
- Unit
- 11 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Ypres, Belgium
- Date of death
- 7 October 1917
- Age
- 21
- Plaque number
- L64A
- Co-located plaques
- L64 - PTE Alexander Johnstone
- L64B - PTE Norman Oats
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 February 2012
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Percy Willis of 11 Battalion was born at Fremantle in May 1896. He was the eleventh of thirteen children born to George and Eliza Willis of Stirling Street, Fremantle.
His father George ran a shoe and sail making business. Percy attended the government boys’ school there and after leaving school worked as a warehouseman.
From the age of fourteen and until he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, he was a member of the naval reserves.
Percy enlisted in Perth July 1915 and after training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp was posted to 10 Reinforcements for 11 Battalion.
He embarked at Fremantle on HMAT Themistocles in September 1915 bound for Egypt and arrived at Tel el Kebir in October.
In May 1916, Percy embarked on HMT Corsican at Alexandria, bound for Marseilles. They were soon in action and he was wounded in the shoulder in August and repatriated to England.
He was twice in and out of hospital before re-joining his unit in September 1917.
Percy was a Lewis gunner and was well liked by his mates who nicked named him 'Curly.'
In October 1917 11 Battalion took up a position on Broodseinde Ridge near Ypres. On 7 October a raid was ordered to consolidate this position, which resulted in the loss of thirty men.
Private Percy Willis, service number 3147, of 11 Battalion was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium on the 7 October 1917. He was 21 years of age.
His plaque is placed alongside Private Alexander Johnstone and Private Norman Samuel Oats, who were in the same 11 Battalion and died within days of each other.