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Albertus (Willy) Willemsen passed away in September 2023 survived by his wife, Sharon, daughters Rachael and Sarah and grandchildren Hamish, Lachlan, Indie and Sophie.
A Victorian National Serviceman, Willy joined the 105th Battery for its second tour of Vietnam. Married before departure, he trained and served on Number 5 (Echo) gun. Pleasant and somewhat quiet, he liked to keep active, and was a valued member of the crew in the role of ‘No 3” and voluntary daily cleaner of the detachment’s machine gun and the howitzer’s breech block.
In civilian life, Willy worked as a fitter for the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works before setting up his own business: ‘Splintex’ fuel injection maintenance. This enterprise reflected Willy’s talent for working with motors and his fondness for motor bikes – he was a foundation member of the Victorian Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans’ Motor Cycle Club – and drag racing, that lasted, after he became a TPI in the 1990s, until his final days. |
