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".