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. Ellis landed in Busan, Korea with the ...