James Henry Ambrose Willis

James Henry Ambrose Willis

Personal Information
Date of Birth	22 Sep 1910
Place of Birth	Waroona, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	29 years, 8 months
Occupation	Truck driver
Religion	Methodist
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. WIlliam James Willis
Military Information
Reg Number	WX3571
Date of Enlistment	28 May 1940
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	25 Oct 1940 ‒ 4 Nov 1940
Transport Details	HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Bombay
Transfers
Journey Dates	10 Nov 1940 ‒ 26 Nov 1940
Transport Details	HMT Rajula Bombay to El Katana, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	29 Jan 1942 ‒ 6 Feb 1942
Transport Details	SS Île de France Port Tewfik, Egypt to Bombay
Journey Dates	10 Feb 1942 ‒ 15 Mar 1942
Transport Details	SS Kosciusko Bombay to Adelade
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	6 Aug 1942 ‒ 13 Aug 1942
Transport Details	SS James Fenimore Cooper Brisbane to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	5 Jan 1943 ‒ 13 Jan 1943
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Port Moresby to Sydney
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	9 Oct 1943 ‒ 18 Oct 1943
Transport Details	unknown Brisbane to Thursday Island
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	30 Jan 1944 ‒ 30 Jan 1944
Transport Details	plane Horn Island to Townsville
4th Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	22 May 1944 ‒ 25 May 1944
Transport Details	unknown Townsville to Thursday Island
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	8 Jul 1944 ‒ 8 Jul 1944
Transport Details	plane Thursday Island to Townsville
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

James enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 28 May 1940 and was posted to the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion that was in training at Northam Camp. On 2 Jun 1940 he was appointed as a Lance Corporal. He was granted pre-embarkation Leave from 27 Sep until 4 Oct 1940, and soon after his return from leave (on 5 Oct 1940) he was promoted Acting Corporal. The battalion embarked on the HMT Aquitania for overseas in Gage Roads Fremantle on 25 Oct 1940, arriving in Bombay, India on 4 Nov 1940. Here they disembarked and moved to Deolali to await a ship to transfer them to Egypt. On 10 Nov 1940 they boarded HMT Rajula and sailed the next day, arriving in El Kantara where, as a member of the rear party, James disembarked on 26 Nov 1940. James' rank of Corporal was confirmed on 1 Apr 1941.

James was evacuated to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital on 22 Jun 1941 with an infected hand. He was transferred to the 2/1st Australian Convalescent Depot on 3 Aug 1941, but on 21 Aug 1941 he was transferred back to the hospital for further treatment of his injured hand. Finally on 18 Sep 1941 he was released to 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion. On 2 Oct 1941 he was transferred to the AIF (Middle East) Signals Training Battalion where he attended a course from 24 Oct 1941 until 9 Nov 1941. On 29 Nov 1941 he returned to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion. Finally on 15 Dec 1941 he returned to the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion, and with his unit he embarked on 29 Jan 1942 aboard SS Île de France in Port Tewfik for Bombay. In Bombay he boarded SS Kosciusko on 10 Feb 1942 for Adelaide, disembarking there on 25 Mar 1942.

Following a period of leave he rejoined his battalion as it moved to Brisbane where on 6 Aug 1942 they boarded SS James Fenimore Cooper for Port Moresby, disembarking there on 13 Aug 1942. With Australian troops involved in heavy fighting on the Kokoda Track, the battalion was rushed forward to bolster them. On 11 Sep 1942 James was evacuated to the 5th Australian Casualty Clearing Station suffering with diahorrea. On 7 Oct 1942 he was well enough to rejoin his battalion. On 28 Dec 1942 James was evacuated to the 2/9th Australian General Hospital with Sacroiliac Strain. On 5 Jan 1943 he was embarked on HMT Katoomba in Port Moresby for Sydney where he entered 104th Australian General Hospital on 13 Jan 1943. On 4 Feb 1943 he transferred to the 103rd Australian Convalescent Depot until 12 Feb 1943 when he was sent to Western Australia to enjoy Disembarkation Leave.

On 9 Mar 1943 his next of kin was altered to reflect his marriage to Mona Doreen. During his return to the eastern states he was admitted to 52nd Australian Camp Hospital in South Australia on 20 Mar 1943 with Cellulitis of the left foot, and on 10 Apr 1943 he was admitted to the 101st Australian General Hospital for treatment of Malaria. On 22 April he was released to the Kapara Convalescent Home in Glenelg, but on 29 Apr 1943 he was readmitted to 101st Australian General Hospital. He rejoined his battalion on 6 May 1943 via Adelaide and Brisbane, but a fortnight later on 20 May 1943 he was in the care of the 6th Australian Casualty Clearing Station who the following day transferred him to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital. They treated him until 16 Jun 1943 when he rejoined his battalion. At this time he was seen by a Medical Board which found him fit only for functions requiring only restricted medical fitness - "B".

On 22 July he was transferred from the battalion to the 7th Australian Infantry Division Recreation Camp and then on 6 August to the Queensland Line of Communication Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for reallocation. On 30 Sep 1943 he was posted to the Torres Strait Pioneer Company, and on 9 Oct 1943 he embarked in Brisbane for Thursday Island, disembarking there on 18 Oct 1943. On 30 Jan 1944 James was flown from Horn Island to Townsville to enjoy some leave. On 22 May 1944 he again embarked in Townsville for Thursday Island, disembarking there on 25 May 1944. A Medical Board held on 29 Jun 1944 resulted in a classification of "B1" (back). As a result he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for them to arrange his discharge on 8 Jul 1944 and he flew back to the mainland the same day.

James arrived in Western Australia on 29 Jul 1944 and faced an additional Medical Board on 3 Aug 1944, which classified him as "B2". As a result he was discharged on 4 Aug 1944.