Second Lieutenant 121563 William Archibald Willison
Second Lieutenant William Willison was in C Company of the Royal Norfolk Regiment under the command of Captain Charles Long.
On 22nd May, 1940, he was on patrol attempting to locate an enemy sniper without success. Three days later on 25th May he was sent forward to establish what had happened to B and D company and he found them in the wrong position.
On 27th May he was reported missing together with Major Richardson. Reports suggest that the roof of Duriez Farm collapsed on them.
Lieutenant Willison was Canadian by birth and prior to being in the Norfolks had served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Mounties) as a Constable. He also served in the French Foreign Legion. He was known to be a highly motivated soldier and to be popular with his fellow soldiers.
He was born in Ontario on 20th March, 1917, the son of Walter Abraham Willison and Vivian Willison (nee Boulton) and named after his father’s twin brother Lieutenant William Taylor Willison of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was killed on 15th September, 1916, and is buried in Courcellette British Cemetery on the Somme.
In 1930, at the age of 13 he travelled from Southampton on the Montclare, a Canadian Pacific shipping line, to Montreal with his mother and sister Rachel (aged 9½). They had been staying at 44 Hartington Gardens, London, SW7.
He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their records state:
"Reg.#12795, Constable William Archibald Willison grew up in Toronto, ON. He was the only son of a Canadian family, and from a young age he thought about the possibility of a military career. In 1935, however, he joined the RCMP in Ottawa, and after Basic Recruit Training at 'Depot' in Regina, SK., William Willison was posted back to Ottawa. Here, he was attached to the administration arm of the Force which was responsible for providing and transporting ordinary needs such as food, clothing and supplies to RCMP members serving in the far northern posts of Canada."
It is not known for sure, but perhaps William Willison heard rumours of the impending war. So after a two year stint in the RCMP he left the Force. He then joined the Governor-General's Guard and, when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the Canadian Army was mobilised and William volunteered as an officer in the Royal Norfolk Regiment. Just prior to leaving for overseas, he married in Toronto and within three months he was in Europe. It was war.
He was married to Marion Wilks on 18th February, 1939, and immediately they left for England on the Queen Mary which arrived in Southampton on 1st March, 1939, and headed for London where he was supposed to be studying English Newspaper methods and staying at 64 Court Kenton Court, Kensington, where the 1939 register states he was awaiting training with the Artists Rifles, although according to a newspaper report at the outbreak of war he was attached to the Scots Guard and later seconded to the Royal Norfolks. Their daughter was born 11th May, 1940, only a few weeks before William Willison was killed and his wife sadly died 12 years later.
On 22nd May, 1940, he was on patrol attempting to locate an enemy sniper without success. Three days later on 25th May he was sent forward to establish what had happened to B and D company and he found them in the wrong position.
On 27th May he was reported missing together with Major Richardson. Reports suggest that the roof of Duriez Farm collapsed on them.
Lieutenant Willison was Canadian by birth and prior to being in the Norfolks had served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Mounties) as a Constable. He also served in the French Foreign Legion. He was known to be a highly motivated soldier and to be popular with his fellow soldiers.
He was born in Ontario on 20th March, 1917, the son of Walter Abraham Willison and Vivian Willison (nee Boulton) and named after his father’s twin brother Lieutenant William Taylor Willison of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was killed on 15th September, 1916, and is buried in Courcellette British Cemetery on the Somme.
In 1930, at the age of 13 he travelled from Southampton on the Montclare, a Canadian Pacific shipping line, to Montreal with his mother and sister Rachel (aged 9½). They had been staying at 44 Hartington Gardens, London, SW7.
He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their records state:
"Reg.#12795, Constable William Archibald Willison grew up in Toronto, ON. He was the only son of a Canadian family, and from a young age he thought about the possibility of a military career. In 1935, however, he joined the RCMP in Ottawa, and after Basic Recruit Training at 'Depot' in Regina, SK., William Willison was posted back to Ottawa. Here, he was attached to the administration arm of the Force which was responsible for providing and transporting ordinary needs such as food, clothing and supplies to RCMP members serving in the far northern posts of Canada."
It is not known for sure, but perhaps William Willison heard rumours of the impending war. So after a two year stint in the RCMP he left the Force. He then joined the Governor-General's Guard and, when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the Canadian Army was mobilised and William volunteered as an officer in the Royal Norfolk Regiment. Just prior to leaving for overseas, he married in Toronto and within three months he was in Europe. It was war.
He was married to Marion Wilks on 18th February, 1939, and immediately they left for England on the Queen Mary which arrived in Southampton on 1st March, 1939, and headed for London where he was supposed to be studying English Newspaper methods and staying at 64 Court Kenton Court, Kensington, where the 1939 register states he was awaiting training with the Artists Rifles, although according to a newspaper report at the outbreak of war he was attached to the Scots Guard and later seconded to the Royal Norfolks. Their daughter was born 11th May, 1940, only a few weeks before William Willison was killed and his wife sadly died 12 years later.
Newspaper Reports of William Willison Missing and His Death
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The following extract comes from the book "The Canal Line" by Jerry Murland (pages 103 and 104).
Sgt Graves recorded
The heavy and constant fire from 13 Platoon made the Jerry retire enabling the remnants of the Norfolk company to drop back to some decent cover. To my surprise, all the infantry company consisted of was a 2nd Lt and about 18 or 20 men and no more……………Our position was now getting critical and after consultation with Sgt Smith we decided our only chance of still remaining an effective force was to retire about 600 yds to where some small slopes and woods offered us some cover, with a least some chance of pulling out when necessary. We approached the 2nd Lt of the Norfolk’s and tried to explain, but he flatly refused to permit us to retire….The enemy was now attacking from all directions except the rear, and after holding them at bay the 2nd Lt decided our only chance was a quick withdrawal, but having no transport and 400 yds of open country to the rear it was too late.
The second lieutenant was likely to have been William Willison who is commemorated with Sgt James Smith on the Dunkirk Memorial. Only four of the Manchesters survived the assault and were taken prisoner along with Sgt Graves. It was the same story everywhere, many of the Manchesters' gunners were killed while still firing, while others were badly wounded like L/Cpl Flude of 15 Platoon who was taken prisoner and survived.
Sgt Graves recorded
The heavy and constant fire from 13 Platoon made the Jerry retire enabling the remnants of the Norfolk company to drop back to some decent cover. To my surprise, all the infantry company consisted of was a 2nd Lt and about 18 or 20 men and no more……………Our position was now getting critical and after consultation with Sgt Smith we decided our only chance of still remaining an effective force was to retire about 600 yds to where some small slopes and woods offered us some cover, with a least some chance of pulling out when necessary. We approached the 2nd Lt of the Norfolk’s and tried to explain, but he flatly refused to permit us to retire….The enemy was now attacking from all directions except the rear, and after holding them at bay the 2nd Lt decided our only chance was a quick withdrawal, but having no transport and 400 yds of open country to the rear it was too late.
The second lieutenant was likely to have been William Willison who is commemorated with Sgt James Smith on the Dunkirk Memorial. Only four of the Manchesters survived the assault and were taken prisoner along with Sgt Graves. It was the same story everywhere, many of the Manchesters' gunners were killed while still firing, while others were badly wounded like L/Cpl Flude of 15 Platoon who was taken prisoner and survived.