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 3265 Private William Herbert Tilley

  23rd Battalion Australian Infantry

             28th March 1918

Born in Port Melbourne,Victoria ,Australia in 1892.His parents were John George  and Marion Tilley.

In both the 1914 & 1915 Australian census' the family were recorded as living at Greensborough, a subdivision of Diamond Creek, Victoria.

William was employed as a Labourer and his father as a foreman. 

He enlisted in Melbourne,Victoria on 21/07/1915,giving his employment as of factory hand and living at 34 Green Street Victoria.

His medical carried out on the same day recorded the following details;

Height 5ft 4 1/2 inches.Weight 10st 2lbs.Chest Measurement 36/37 inches.Complexion fair.Eyes blue.Hair light brown.

He was recorded as having a mole on his right breast ,right shoulder and 4 on his back.He also had a scar on his left kneecap.

His religion was Church of England.

He embarked from Australia to Egypt on 26/11/1915 aboard Zeitoun.

On 23/02/1916 he was allotted and was proceeding to join 58th Infantry Battalion A.I.F. from 6th Training Brigade.

Taken on strength from reinforcements 23rd Battalion in Tal-El-Kebir.

Transferred to 59th Battalion on 12/03/1916.

Sick to hospital on 28/03/1916.

Admitted to Pyrexia,Tal-El-Kebir transfers to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital on 28/03/1916.

Proceeded to join B.E.F on 09/05/1916 aboard Scotian.

Disembarked from Scotian in Marseilles,France on 18/05/1916.

Marched in & T.O.S. Etaples on 05/06/1916.

Marched out from 2nd Australian Divisional base to join unit on 31/07/1916.

Taken on strength 23rd Battalion on 03/08/1916.

To hospital sick 04/12/1916.

Admitted to ambulance train on 06/12/1916 from 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital.

Admitted to 6th General Hospital ,Rouen with influenza on 07/12/1916.

Transferred to No.2 Convalescence Depot,Rouen on 13/12/1016.

Marched in to 2nd Divisional base,Etaples on 08/01/1917.

Marched out to join unit on 04/02/1917.

Rejoined 23rd Battalion from hospital on 05/02/1917.

Wounded in action on 03/05/1917.

Admitted to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wounds(GSW) to left shoulder on 04/05/1917.

Admitted with GSW to left shoulder to No.2 Convalescence Depot,Rouen on 05/05/1917.

Admitted to 1st General Australian Hospital ,Rouen on 10/05/1917.

Invalided to England on 17/05/1917.

Admitted to Grove Road Military Hospital,Richmond on 18/05/1917.

Marched in from furlough to No.1 Command Depot on Perham Downs  on 23/06/1917.

Classified as B1A(able to march 5 miles and see to shoot with glasses and hear well and stand active service conditions)

on 23/06/1917.

Reclassified as B1A4(as above but also fit for active service)

Sick to Brigade Hospital with influenza on 03/09/1917.

Marched in from Brigade Hospital to No.1 Command Depot ,Perham Downs on 07/09/1917.

Marched out to overseas(France) via Southampton ex Sandhill Camp Longbridge Deverill on 14/02/1918.

Marched in from England to No.2 A.I.B.D. Le Havre  on 15/02/1918.

Marched out to join unit on 17/02/1918.

Rejoined 23rd Battalion from wounded on 23/02/1918.

Killed in action 28/03/1918.

 

At the time of his death,his family had moved to 52 Marshall Street ,Ivanhoe,Victoria.

His effects were sent to his father aboard the Barunga on 21/06/1918 in case number 1135.These items were;

Disc,Metal Chain,Wallet,Letters,Photos,Cards,Pencil,Wound Stripe and also a Wristwatch(damaged).

His father received his Memorial scroll and Kings message on 17/11/1921.

His mother collected his Memorial Plaque on 15/11/1922.

His father was informed on 13/08/1926 of his original resting place in Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery,Plot 1 Row K,Grave 11.

His father received a letter from Officer i/c of base records on 01/07/1930. It read,

"IWGC unable to acquire the Chateau Rosenberg Military cemetery so all war graves removed to Royal Berks Extension Ploegsteert.

Unfortunately the graves of 5 men could not be located  during the course of exhumation & the commission has reluctantly come to the conclusion that the original surface markers were obliterated by shell fire thereby".

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