Alan Edward Lilley (1894-1964)

Wyndham City Libraries

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Alan Edward Lilley

3094

Albert J. Lilley,
Centre Road,
East Bentleigh, Victoria.

Kia-Ora,
Geelong Road,
West Footscray, Victoria

Single

Altona Memorial Park

No.3094  Private Alan Edward Lilley
Alan Edward Lilley was born to Albert Joseph Lilley and Emily Barrett.

Siblings:

• Albert Joseph Lilley - born 1885 at Port Melbourne
• Theresa May Lilley - born 1887 at Melbourne
• Herbert Leslie Lilley - born 1888 at Port Melbourne
• William Theodore Lilley - born 1890 at Port Melbourne
• Allan Edward Lilley - born 1894 at Port Melbourne

Pre War
The Lilley family lived in Port Melbourne while the children were growing up.

In the 1903, Electoral Roll, his mother, Emily Lilley is recorded on her own at 146 Dow Street, Port Melbourne, Home Duties. She died at Footscray in 1913. *

In the 1909 Victorian Electoral Roll, Albert Joseph Lilley (Alan's father) is recorded as a Grocer, living at Byron Street, North Brighton.
Ancestry.com – Australia, Electoral Roll, 1903-1980

At the time of his enlistment, Alan declared that both of his parents had died, and he nominated his brother Albert, as his next of kin.

Prior to his enlisting in the A.I.F., Alan lived and worked at West Footscray, where he was a wood turner. Then in his spare time, he was a volunteer Corporal in the 66th Infantry A.M.F. Unit at Footscray. They were part of the 17th Infantry Brigade.

War Service
Alan Edward Lilley enlisted in the A.I.F. at Melbourne on 2 February 1917 and because of his prior military training, he was immediately appointed to the 7th Reinforcements for the 39th Infantry Battalion, who were based at Royal Park in Melbourne.

At the age of 22 years, Private Lilley embarked at Melbourne per HMAT Ballarat A70 on 19 February 1917, with the 7th Reinforcements for the 39th Infantry Battalion. Their ship sailed to England, where they disembarked at Devonport on 25 April 1917.

One day after arriving in England, on 26 April 1917, Private Lilley marched in to the 3rd Division's No.10 Training Battalion at Durrington in England. Here men arriving from Australia were trained for the new operational theatre on the Western Front.

After seven months of training, Private Lilley proceeded to France, to join his unit in the field, on 14 November 1917. He arrived and was taken on strength with the 39th Battalion on 23 November 1917. The Battalion were in the front line, at the St Yves Sector.

Between late March 1918 and early June 1918, the 39th Battalion took part in a series of defensive actions in the Somme region.

Just after that fighting, between 19 June 1918 and  28 June 1918, Private Lilley was admitted to hospital in France with Pyrexia. **
During his illness he was treated by the 5th Casualty Clearing Station (C.C.S.) and the 10th Australian Field Ambulance.

Private Lilley was able to re-join the 39th Battalion on 29 June 1918. They were resting at a camp south west of Querrieu, having just been relieved on the front line.

His Battalion then participated in the Hundred Day Offensive, which culminated in the end of hostilities.

The Armistice, on 11 November 1918, was celebrated by the 39^th Battalion at Hallencourt, with a special dinner and a Divisional Concert.

Between 6 December 1918 and 23 December, Private Lilley was granted leave in England. Then after returning to his unit, he was transferred to the Australian Army Postal Corps, in France, with effect from 11 January 1919. One week later, on 18 January 1919, Private Lilley taken on strength with the 12th Infantry Brigade Field Post Office, in France.

On 4 June 1919, Private Lilley marched out of camp in France and returned to No. 1 Group England, where he awaited a passage home. After one month’s wait, Private Lilley embarked for Australia per Seuvic on 23 July 1919.

He disembarked in Melbourne on 18 September 1919, and received his discharge from the A.I.F. on 1 December 1919.

Post War
In 1920, Alan Edward Lilley married Eliza Jane Elliott Hunter in Victoria.
Certificate 1920/6869.

In 1924, he lived at 207 Geelong Road, North Footscray, and was working as a carter. At the same address was Elisa Jane Lilley (Home Duties).
ancestry.com

In 1940, they were living at 40 Liverpool Street, North Footscray, and he was still a carter.

In 1964 Allan Edward Lilley died at Footscray, aged 70 years. 
Certificate No.20780/1964 

Medals and Entitlements:

• British War Medal - No.63793
• Victory Medal - No.61669

Notes
Name on the Werribee Shire Oak Board: LILLEY, A. E.

Name first appeared in the Roll of Honor, Werribee Shire Banner, 13 February 1919, p.3.

* Death Certificate for Emily Lilley (nee Barrett) No.13323/1913

** Pyrexia, or fever, is the body's way of fighting bacteria and viruses. Pyrexia is a rise in the core temperature of the body and is triggered by the hypothalamus.

Embarkation
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/

Unit War Diary
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection

Death
ancestry.com.au

Service Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

Marriage
ancestry.com.au

Pioneer Index 1837-1888 CD
Federation Index 1889-1901 CD
Edwardian Index 1902-1913 CD
Great War Index 1914-1920 CD
Marriage Index 1921-1942 CD

British War Medal

Victory Medal