With a sense of adventure, duty and enthusiasm, thousands of young men like George and Robert Wills went to war.
The Werribee brothers enlisted on the same day, served in the same battalion … and both made the ultimate sacrifice.
As Anzac Day and the 100th anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, draws closer, the Wills brothers are remembered among the hundreds of thousands of young Australians who answered the British Empire’s call at the outbreak of the First World War.
More than 60,000 would not return home.
When they enlisted in the 29th Battalion in Melbourne on August 12, 1915, George Wills was 27 and Robert 23. They had four brothers and three sisters.
Before they left home, the Wills brothers were chaff-cutters, with George a keen member of the Werribee Rifle Club.
After sailing to the Western Front, George was killed in action on July 20, 1916, and is buried at Rue Petillon military cemetery in France.
The following day, Robert was wounded in his leg and shoulder and admitted to hospital.
After being sent to England, Robert died on August 2, less than two weeks after his brother, and was buried on Heroes Corner at Tottenham cemetery in London.
Hoppers Crossing resident Leanne Wills has just discovered the stories of George and Robert – her grandfather’s brothers.
A letter sent home by George in February 1916, five months before he lost his life, paints a particularly poignant picture.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Ms Wills said.
“He asks for news about Werribee and says: ‘We’re having a good time and we’re safe as the Bank of England’. Growing up, I didn’t know anything about George and Robert, but they’re family and it’s important to be able to pass on their stories to future generations.”
This Sunday, the annual Anzac march will be held in Werribee starting at the Cultural Centre on Watton Street at 2.20pm and finishing at the cenotaph, after which a wreath will be laid at Werribee RSL.
This year’s ceremony will include display boards of photos and stories of each of the 60 soldiers from the Werribee district, including the Wills brothers, who were killed in WWI.
The soldier boards will also be placed around the cenotaph at the dawn service, which takes place from 6.30am on Anzac Day. This will be followed by a breakfast at the RSL.
