Colin George PILLEY MM

Colin George PILLEY MM Update Details

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PILLEY, Colin George

Service Number:	2191
Enlisted:	6 May 1915, Perth, Western Australia
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	51st Infantry Battalion (WW1)
Born:	Adelaide, South Australia, 18 December 1896
Home Town:	Nedlands, Nedlands, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Western Australia, 29 September 1964, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Ashes scattered over gardens.
Memorials:	West Leederville Town Hall HB2

World War 1 Service

6 May 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Perth, Western Australia
6 Jun 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2191, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Fremantle
6 Jun 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2191, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
21 Oct 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2191, 11th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens
28 May 1919:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2191, AIF Headquarters
11 Nov 1919:	Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2191, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1)
27 Apr 1920:	Discharged AIF WW1

Help us honour Colin George Pilley's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Born: George Collin PILLEY, 18 December 1896 in Adelaide, South Australia
(he reverted his names around)
(SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 596 Page: 78 District: Ade.)

Father Frederick William PILLEY and Mother Edith Florence (nee MELVIN).

Mrs Edith Pilley was daughter of the late Mr. William Melvin, of the Supreme Court,
and niece of Mr D. W. Melvin, Auctioneer, and the late Mrs Whiting.

Prior to embarking he lived with his parents at Bernard Street, Claremont, WA.

They later moved to 76 Monmouth Street, North Perth, WA.

Siblings:
Brother    Frederick Cyril PILLEY (b. 18/12/1896, Adelaide SA - d. 12/6/1960)
               (enlisted under name Cyril Frederick Pilley)
Sister       May Irene PILLEY (b. 27/9/1900, Unley SA - d. ___)

Next of kin in service:
Brother     WWI 1814 Cyril Frederick Pilley
                        Private in 11th Battalion to AIF Headquarters
                WWII W237686 Major in Australian Army Canteens Service
                Returned to Australia
                12/6/1960     Cyril passed away (64 years)
                cremated in: Karrakatta Cemetery, Nedlands, WA
                                   Crematorium Rose Gardens; Site 6C; Position 0007

Previous service
6 months Senior Cadets - still serving on enlistment

Described on enlisting as 19 years 4 months old; single; 5' 10 1/2" tall; 155 lbs;
fair complexion; grey-blue eyes; fair hair; Methodist

6/5/1915 enlisted in Perth, Western Australia

13/5/1915 Commanding Officer appointed Colin to 6th reinforcements, 11th Battalion
Blackboy Hill, Western Australia

6/6/1915 embarked from Fremantle, WA on board HMAT A2 Geelong
as a Private in 11th Infantry Battalion, 6th reinforcements

31/7/1915 embarked on board HMT Berrima, ex Alexandria
for Dardanelles, GALLIPOLI

4/8/1915 taken on strength from 7th reinforcements into
11th Infantry Battalion, Dardanelles, Gallipoli

26/8/1915   sick with dysentry, admitted to hospital, Gallipoli
3/9/1915       admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, Gallipoli
5/9/1915       transferred to Mudros
10/9/1915     embarked on board HS Neuralia for Malta
9/10/1915     embarked for England
6/3/1916      rejoined unit

5/6/1916 proceeded to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
12/6/1916 disembarked into Marseilles, France

5/7/1916       Gun shot wound to hip - France
8/7/1916      admitted to No.3 Canadian General Hospital
9/7/1916       embarked on HS Maheno at Boulogne, France, for England
10/7/1916      admitted to Hampstead General Hospital

17/9/1916 taken on strength from No.1 Command Depot, Perham Downs
to 13th Training Battalion

31/12/1916 proceeding overseas to France, ex Folkestone on board SS Invicta
19/1/1917 rejoined unit, Etaples, France

1/5/1918 Appointed Lance Corporal, France

6/7/1918        wounded in action (2nd ocasion), France
9/7/1918        admitted to L of C Hospital
22/9/1918      rejoined unit

21/10/1918 Promoted to Corporal, in the field

11/11/1918 marched in No.3 Australian General Hospital - dog bite
admitted to Astoria Hospital, Paris

31/12/1918 discharged to Base, Havre, France

29/3/1919 London Gazette - Awarded MILITARY MEDAL

"During period 26th March to 16th September 1918 this Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO),
who is a Lewis Gunner, has shown splendid initiative and devotion to duty.
During operations he has several times located hostile machine guns and led his section
against them, engaging them by fire while his Company advanced.
His gallant conduct, ready resourcefulness, and ever cheerful manner have been a
splendid example to his comrades."

28/5/1919 detached for duty with AIF Headquarters, ex Sutton Veny

11/11/1919 detached to 51st Battalion, on march out of Sutton Veny

18/12/1919 returning to Australia on board Konigan Luise
28/1/1920 disembarked into Australia

27/4/1920 discharged from service in AIF at Perth, Western Australia

Medals:
1914-15 Star (1665); British War medal (3675) and Victory medal (3672).

1930 married Ethel M PEIRREL. in Western Australia

29/9/1964 Colin passed away
cremated in: Karrakatta Cemetery in WA
- ashes scattered over gardens

Sourced and submitted by Elizabeth Allen and Julianne T Ryan. 16/5/2015. Lest we forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia