Alfred Martin Tilly

Alfred Martin Tilly

Alfred in WW2 Officers uniform photo Ancestry.com
Alfred and Family
Personal Information
Date of Birth	22 Apr 1896
Place of Birth	Leederville, Western Australia
Death	28 Aug 1976, aged 80
Place of Death	Nedlands, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 9 months
Description	5' 6¼" (1.68m) tall ; 145 lbs 65.771 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Veterinary student
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Coonalbyn', Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Arthur Lindsay Tilly
Military Information
Reg Number	935A
Date of Enlistment	17 Jan 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, Headquarters / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 ‒ 26 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Date of Return	1 Jun 1919 ‒ 8 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Somali
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (South panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

An original member of the 44th Battalion, he was initially posted to 'B' Company on 28 Jan 1916, but was later (16 Apr 1916) reallocated as a Driver (horses) in Battalion Headquarters. Along with the rest of the battalion, he boarded HMAT A29 Suevic in Fremantle harbour on 6 Jun1916 for Plymouth in England where they disembarked on 21 Jul 1916. During the journey to England via Durban, Cape Town and St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands, he fell foul of military law, and was charged with 'Breaking Ship', and AWOL. He was rewarded with having to man all guards and fatigues for the rest of the voyage.

On arrival in England they were sent to Larkhill camp, and as part of his training he attended a farrier's course at Romsey. On 24 Oct 1916, he was admitted to Wareham Isolation Hospital, before being discharged to No. 4 Command Depot on 20 Jan 1917. His records do not give the reason why he required quarantine. On 23 Mar 1917 he was transferred to the 70th Battalion at Tidworth, and in Apr 1917 he was sent to a course on Cold Shoeing (of horses), run by the School of Farriery at Windmill Hill, Romsey. He qualified as a Shoeing Smith. He then spent some time with the Overseas Training Brigade from 19 Sep - 8 Oct 1917 before proceeding to France from Southampton on 9 Oct 1917.

In Belgium he joined the 44th Battalion on 23 Oct 1917 at St Pierre where they were billeted for rest and reorganisation after coming out of the line where they had suffered 377 casualties, including 85 who were either killed or died from their wounds. On 7 Jun 1918 he relinquished his rank (Lance Corporal) at his own request, asking to be transferred back to 'B' Company from the Transport Section. He again suffered ill health, and was treated by the 10th Field Ambulance and the 47th Casualty Clearing Station where he remained from 26 Jun 1918 until he returned to the battalion on 13 Jul 1918. He was again appointed Lance Corporal on 20 Oct 1918, and was placed on the unattached list on 7 Feb 1919 to allow him to spend 4 months from 18 Feb to 18 Jun 1919 at the Barlock Typewriter Company in Southwark, London to learn about the manufacture of typewriters. However, after 2 months, this arrangement was cancelled and he moved to Codford where he was granted some leave before returning to Australia for discharge.

Alfred also served in WW2, this time as a Captain in Military Intelligence (WX36350) from 20 Nov 1939 to 5 Nov 1945 before in 1951 seeking to enlist in a special cadetship with the Navy.

Post War

Married Winifred Elsie Bremner (b.1900-d.1991) on 16 Jan 1924.

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 Borden, farmer; 1922 - 1928 "Coonalbyn", Salt River Mail, Gnowangerup, agriculturist; 1931 in Aberdeen street, Katanning, salesman; 1936 - 1943 at 32 Irvine street, Peppermint Grove, salesman; 1949 at 36 View street, Cottesloe, inspector; 1963 alone at 217 Marmion street, Cottesloe, retired; 1972 8/9 Overton Gardens Cottesloe. [Winifred Elsie at Flat 1, 74 Thomas street from 1963 - 1977; and at 2 Albert street Mosman Park in 1980 ] Winifred died in Nedlands on 7 Mar 1991 aged 91. Children were Elwy Dorothy (1924-2016); Audrey Joan (1926-2000); Lindsay Alfred (3 Jun 1927 - 31 May 2014); Valmai Marie (1929-2007); Winifred G (1932 - ); and Graeme John (1935-1995).

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial