WILLEY, Francis John
| Service Numbers: | 4061, Q186585 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 February 1916, Enlisted in Rockhampton and allocated to 10th reinforcements. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) |
| Born: | Truro, Cornwall, England , 1 August 1882 |
| Home Town: | Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Queensland, Australia , 8 December 1961, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Charters Towers Monumental & Lawn Cemetery, Queensland LYND, Section 12, Plot 624, Grave 12888 |
| Memorials: | Mackay Old Town Hall Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Rockhampton and allocated to 10th reinforcements. | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boonah embarkation_ship_number: A36 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boonah, Brisbane | |
| 27 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, Suffered shrapnel wound to chest. | |
| 2 Nov 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, 'During the operations of 29th and 30th September and 1st October in the advance through BELLICOURT this man was employed as a runner on Battalion Headquarters. For three days and nights he carried on with little or no rest, and displayed a perseverance and initiative of a very high standard. At a critical stage of the advance under heavy artillery and machine gun fire he delivered despatches which were of vital importance.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109 Date: 15 September 1919 | |
| 8 Jan 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 31st Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Jun 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, Embarked in England aboard HMAT Port Lyttelton for return to Australia. | |
| 14 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4061, 31st Infantry Battalion, Termination of period of enlistment |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Oct 1939: | Involvement Private, Q186585 | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1939: | Enlisted | |
| 19 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q186585, 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) | |
| 13 Mar 1940: | Discharged | |
| 13 Mar 1940: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q186585, 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) |
Help us honour Francis John WILLEY's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Francis John WILLEY was born on 1st August 1882 in Truro, Cornwall, England to parents Sarah Ann (nee WILLIAMS) and John WILLEY. Francis married Caroline WOOLCOCK in Truro on 30th March 1907.
A 31 year old, married labourer at the time, Francis enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Rockhampton, Queensland, on 14th February 1916. Allocated the regimental number 4061, Francis was appointed as a Private with the 10th reinforcements for the 31st Infantry Battalion. After completing his recruit training at Thompson's Paddock Camp, Enoggera, Brisbane, Francis embarked in Brisbane aboard HMAT Boonah on 21st October 1916, for active service overseas.
On 27th September 1917, Francis was wounded in action in France, sustaining a shrapnel wound to the chest. He was evacuated by members of the 8th Australian Field Ambulance to the 5th Advanced Dressing Station, and subsequently admitted to an unspecified hospital. He rejoined his Unit on 17th October.
On 2nd November 1918, Francis was awarded the Military Medal. The citation as follows:
'During the operations of 29th and 30th September and 1st October in the advance through BELLICOURT this man was employed as a runner on Battalion Headquarters. For three days and nights he carried on with little or no rest, and displayed a perseverance and initiative of a very high standard. At a critical stage of the advance under heavy artillery and machine gun fire he delivered despatches which were of vital importance.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919
On 8th November 1918, Francis was Mentioned in Despatches of Field Marshal Douglas HAIG.
Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31089 (31 December 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 (23 May 1919).
Francis was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 8th January 1919.
His period of enlistment having terminated, Francis embarked in England aboard HMAT Port Lyttelton on 10th June 1919 for return to Australia, where he was discharged in the 1st Military District, Brisbane, on 14th September that year. On 4th October 1919, Francis was presented with an engraved 9ct gold and enamel fob medallion by the Mirani (Mackay District) Patriotic Club, as a welcome home gift.
For his service, in addition to his Military Medal, Francis was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Following the outbreak of WW2, Francis enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces (Militia) on 19th October 1939, with 'E' Company of the 1st Garrison Battalion, in Rockhampton. He was appointed a Private, with the service number Q186585, and his marital status was now recorded as single. After two incidents of him being found guilty of being absent without leave, however, he was discharged on 13th March 1940, due to a "reduction of establishment strength".
On 13th October 1952, 70 year old Francis was detained by Police in a Mackay Street for being of "unsound mind", after allegedly challenging a Romeo Street resident as to the ownership of her home. He stated to the arresting Constable that he was married to the Queen, and could "contact her at any time by just switching on a machine".
Francis died on 8th December 1961, aged 79, and was buried in the Charters Towers Monumental & Lawn Cemetery, Charters Towers, Queensland.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, AIF Project, Births, Deaths and Marriages Queensland, Find A Grave website, and Daily Mercury of 15 Oct 1952.
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