Thomas's Story.
Birkenhead News 31 March 1917GUNNER TOM WILLIS.
Dies at Malta.
Mrs. Willis, who resides at 17, West View, New Chester Road, Tranmere, has been informed by the War Office that her husband, Gunner Thomas Willlis, of the R.F.A., died at St. George’s Hospital, Malta on March 14th. Mrs. Willis naturally was stricken with grief when she read the letter, for she had received a very cheerful missive from her husband by an earlier post which had been posted some 11 days before. From the very scanty information which Mrs. Willis has obtained it appears that her husband, who was seized with illness whilst serving in the Balkans, had been at Malta for 10 months convalescent. It is over two years since Mrs. Willis saw him, as he enlisted in September, 1914, a few days after the war was declared. He was drafted out to Egypt, and later to the Balkans. Previous to enlisting Gunner Willis was employed in the engineering department, at Messrs. Lever Bros., Port Sunlight, where he was held in the highest esteem by all his workmates, and his general manner won for him many friends in the town who will be sorry to learn of his untimely end in the service of his country. Gunner Willis, who was only 29 years of age, leaves a wife and two children to mourn the loss of a good husband and father.