HILLS, Raymond Timothy
| Service Number: | 6038 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, Tasmania, Australia, 23 April 1898 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Central Highlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia , 4 September 1965, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Roman Catholic, Ee, Number 70 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 9 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6038, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 6038, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 6038, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Hobart | |
| 3 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6038, 12th Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit, gunshot wound left knee, penetrated joint. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Raymond Timothy Hills was the youngest son of Eden Thomas and Sarah Hills of Hamilton, Tasmania.
His two older brothers had enlisted and both had been wounded in action at Gallipoli with the 15th Battalion during 1915.
Raymond tried to enlist at Claremont on 29 November 1915, at seventeen years of age. He was found out within a few days and was discharged for giving a ‘false answer’ regarding his age. He enlisted again on 9 May 1916, just having turned eighteen years.
He arrived in England during September 1916 and joined the 12th Battalion at the front on 19 March 1917. He was wounded in action for the first time, only a few weeks later, near Noreuil in France in April 1917. He was evacuated to England with gunshot wounds to his left leg and back, (severe).
After a long recovery he rejoined the 12th Battalion in France during March 1918. Within two weeks he was gassed, and was sent back to England for treatment. He rejoined his battalion again on 16 July 1918 and only six days later was wounded for a third time, this time slight, shell contusions, and he was back in action a week later. On 23 August 1918 he was wounded a fourth time, seriously, by shell shrapnel which fractured his left leg. He was again evacuated to England and admitted to hospital with ‘gunshot wounds left leg and left face’.
He was returned to Australia on 4 January 1919 and discharged in Hobart a few months later, disability (G.S.W. left knee, joint penetrated).
His older brother, Company Sergeant Major Joseph Norman Hills 47th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Dernancourt on 5 April 1918, aged 28.
Another older brother, Company Quartermaster Sergeant Clifford John Hills M.M. 15th Battalion was returned to Australia wounded on 15 February 1918.
The Hobart Mercury reported, “Our Hamilton correspondent writes, Hamilton on Tuesday welcomed home Private Ray Hills, A.I.F., returned invalided from the Western Front. On the arrival of the motor-car at his father's (Mr. Eden Hills) residence he was welcomed by the Warden of Hamilton (Councillor F. C. K. Pitt), on behalf of the Hamilton municipality and was cheered to the echo by a large gathering of residents. Private Ray Hills, who is still under 21 years of age and has seen over 2½ years' active service was wounded severely on four occasions, and on one of the occasions was gassed. Mr. Eden Hills's three sons enlisted, C. Q. M. Sergeant Norman Hills (killed in action), C. Q. M. Sergeant Clifford Hills, M.M. and Private Ray Hills, who not to be behind his older brothers, enlisted when 17 years of age, but had to wait until he is was 18 before being allowed to go to the front”