Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) corned beef.

1917

L.A. Times 22 Apr. III 22: ‘Corned Willie’ is canned corned beef. The returned guardsmen hope they may never see it again. Some people are going to be surprised, however, when they hear guardsmen referring to ‘ole Bill.’ ‘Ole Bill’ is not a departed comrade, merely ‘corned Willie’ under another alias.