Lance Corporal William (Bill) John Ellis - 5/1677

 

Lance Corporal Ellis has an inspiring story that deserves to be remembered. There is a moving tribute to him on the Virtual War Memorial website.[1]

Ellis was born in Harvey in January 1929 and spent his childhood and schooling there. Ellis’s father was a World War I veteran and a well-known member of the Harvey RSL sub-branch. The family moved to Perth in the late 1940s.[2]

On his arrival in Perth Ellis first ran a milk round in Osborne Park before joining his father and brother in running a wood and ice round in North Beach.[3] After his father died in August 1950 Ellis struggled to make a living from the business due to unexpected costs, including vehicle repairs. These financial difficulties prompted Ellis to join the army to both support his young family and pay off the debts from the family business.  He volunteered for overseas service in Korea after being told he wouldn’t get promoted if he hadn’t spent time overseas.

Haines landed in Busan, Korea with the 1st Regiment of the Royal Australian Regiment, (1RAR), in April 1952.  From June to December 1952 1RAR was on the Jamestown Line, (in what is North Korean territory today), engaged in what is now called the static phase of the Korean War.  The Allied soldiers were fighting a form of trench warfare that has been likened to the conditions in World War 1.  1 RAR was aggressively sending our patrols and raiding parties while subject to heavy shelling and mortar bombardment. [4] 

From the beginning of November 1952 1RAR was on Kowang San, relieving the Canadians who opened the battle for Hill 355 and were relieved after suffering heavy losses. Eyewitness accounts of that battle tell of such heavy bombing that it looked like the whole of the top of the hill had exploded.[5] The fortifications on Hill 355 needed repairing after the attack on the Canadians and 1RAR also started a period of even more intense patrolling. [6] 

Photo of Hill 355 where 1RAR was based at the end of 1952. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C14461

This patrolling was stepped up even more in the weeks prior to Christmas in an attempt to prevent the Chinese soldiers from leaving propaganda and Christmas gifts as they did during the previous Christmas.[7] Ellis was the Forward Scout on such a patrol on 19 December 1952 that accidently entered a mine field.  According to the personal story on the Virtual War Memorial of Australia, Ellis called a warning to his men and stayed put while his patrol moved to safety. [8] Two other patrol members were wounded but Ellis was the only casualty that day.

Before leaving Korea in early 1953 1RAR visited the Military Cemetery in Busan to pay homage to their 18 dead comrades, including Lance Corporal Ellis. 

1RAR at a memorial service for lost comrades at the Military Cemetery in Busan in March 1953.  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279456


Endnotes


[1] ELLIS, William John. Personal Stories. https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/617303. Accessed 15 June 2023.

[2] Ex-Harvey Lad Killed in Korea. Harvey Murray Times (WA: 1931 - 1955), Wednesday 24 December 1952, page 1. Accessed 15 June 2023 via TROVE

[3] SOLDIER GOES BANKRUPT (1952, January 4). The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882 - 1955), p. 8 (FINAL). Retrieved July 10, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article265890081.

 [4] 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, War Diary. http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/oz/1rar/ralston.htm. Accessed 10 July 2023.

 [5] Brewster, Murray. Remembering Hill 355-a forgotten battle in an almost forgotten war. Posted 23 October 2022. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/korean-war-korea-hill-355-canada-1.6625880. Accessed 10 July 2023.

 [6] 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, War Diary. http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/oz/1rar/ralston.htm. Accessed 10 July 2023.

 [7] Rose Dryzek.  A Weary Business, The Experiences of 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment during the Static Phase of the Korean War. P19. https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/awearybusiness.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2023.

 [8] ELLIS, William John. Personal Stories. https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/617303. Accessed 15 June 2023.

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