Outdoor portrait of 2140 Private (Pte) Eric Mattinson Willington and 2150 Pte Edward Bertram ...

Outdoor portrait of 2140 Private (Pte) Eric Mattinson Willington and 2150 Pte Edward Bertram Andrews, both of 32nd Battalion. Pte Willington, a clerk, and Pte Andrews, a store assistant, both of Melrose, South Australia, prior to enlistment, embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Adelaide on 7 February 1916 aboard HMAT Miltiades (A28) for Suez. Their battalion relocated to the Western Front, France, in mid June 1916. Pte Willington was appointed Lance Corporal in early September 1916 and was further promoted to Corporal in late October and then to Sergeant (Sgt) in early December. Sgt Willington was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 1 May 1917 and then attended the Anzac Corps School from mid June to mid July 1917 before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) on 22 July 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Lt) on 4 March 1918 and was assigned to the 14th Training Battalion in England from late June 1918 until after the end of hostilities. Lt Willington served on the staff of Headquarters London for 12 months from late December 1918 until he returned to Australia for discharge on 21 January 1920. Pte Andrews was wounded in action at the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 and was able to return to duty later that day. Pte Andrews was killed in action near Fleurbaix, France, on 28 August 1916. He was aged 24 years.