Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Dr. Eric Albert Willis, Major

Male 1916 - 1945  (29 years)


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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Dr. Eric Albert Willis, Major was born 10 Apr 1916, Seeley's Bay, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada; died 3 May 1945, Bedburg, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany; was buried , Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegen, , Gelderland, Netherlands.

    Other Events:

    • FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12905415
    • Eby ID Number: Waterloo-141496

    Notes:

    MAJOR ERIC WILLIS

    Major Eric Albert Willis, 28- year-old doctor who received the Montgomery Award for gallantry in January of this year, gave his life in service, his wife has been informed.

    Mrs. Willis is the former Mildred Forler, 60 College St., Apt. A., who graduated from the K-W Hospital, where Major Willis served as in- tern. They were married in Kitch ener on Feb. 24, 1941.

    The young doctor was born at Seeley's Bay to Mr. and Mrs. Welington Willis. He enlisted in June, 1940, as a lieutenant with the 23rd Field Ambulance and went overseas in August, 1941, proceeding to France on D-day. Promotion to the rank of major came in November, 1944.

    He trained with the C.O.T.C. at Queen's University, Kingston, where he graduated with a medical degree in May, 1940. His earlier education was received at Seeley's Bay.

    His sister, Dorothy, is a nursing sister in the United States Air Force and a brother, Delmer, is serving in the navy.

    Other survivors in addition to his parents, are two sisters, Mrs. Stuart Willoughby and Eleanor.

    Kitchener Daily Record 09 Mar 1945, Fri Page 3

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    Major Willis Dies in Action, Wife Informed

    Today's heavy list of casualties fo cludes two Twin City and three die triet men who have given their lives in service and six local and district men reported wounded.

    Two men have been wounded second time, and one is a casualty a the third time.

    Secondary telegrams have been received concerning men previously reported wounded.

    The casualties are:

    KILLED

    Major Eric Albert Willis, 2, husband of the former Mildred Forler, 60 College St, Apt. A.

    Kitchener Daily Record 09 Mar 1945, Fri Page 3


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    MAJOR ERIC ALBERT WILLIS, Med. '40, of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in Germany early in March. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Willis of Seeley's Bay, Ont., and was educated in the public and continuation schools of the village before entering Medicine at Queen's. After graduating in 1940 he interned at the General Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., and then enlisted in the R.C.A.M.C. He went overseas in 1941 with the 23rd Field Ambulance. In January of this year he won the Montgomery Award for gallantry. Besides his parents he is survived by his wife, one brother and three sisters.

    The Queen's Review, 1945, p. 77

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    Eric married Mary Mildred "Mildred" Forler 24 Feb 1941. Mary (daughter of Carl Frederick Jacob "Charles" Forler and Olive Pearl "Pearl" Freeborn) was born 1917, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1 Oct 1983, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]