Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George Iley was born on the 10th.December 1893 at  Spring Creek, Camden to George Lambert and Elizabeth Dunn. Along with  his siblings William, Amy, Minnie, Kathleen, Bertha and Lilian they  attended a small country school built on their property, Williamwood Public School 1. At the turn of the century with the Boer War over and  following federation, Australia began to organize its own defence force. Many establishments sprang up over this country and  George Iley belonged to the 9th.LIght Horse  at Camden.

   With the declaration of war on 4th.August 1914, it was expected that those with prior military involvement would be amongst the first to sign up. George answered the call only 18 days later, making him the first man to enlist  from Mount Hunter. On the 21st. August 1914 he recieved a letter from Butler and Son Stables at Camden confirming arrangements for Trooper Dunn and his horse to proceed to Sydney. The following day, the 22nd., he enlisted at the Light Horse Camp at Rosebury Park and was attached to the First Light Horse  Brigade 1st.Regiment "C" Squadron.

  The 1st Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War 1. In 1914, the brigade formed part of the New Zealand and Australian Division but during the Gallipoli Campaign served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). After being withdrawn to Egypt they served in the Anzac Mounted Division from March 1916 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force  taking part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign until the end of the war. The brigade was raised in response to a promise made by the Australian Government to supply a division of 20,000 Australians comprising infantry, artillery and cavalry to be used at the discretion of Britain. It was part of the 1st Contingent that was hastily put together in the middle of August 1914, and consisted of 1,560 men organised into three regiments – the 1st. 2nd. and 3rd.– each of approximately 520 men,under the overall command of Brigadier General Harry Chauvel. It was primarily raised from recruits currently serving in the various militia light horse formations created as a consequence of the Kitchener Report of 1910. The brigade's personnel were drawn from the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. The  1st. Light Horse Regiment was recruited exclusively from the various New South Wales militia regiments and was divided into 3 squadrons. "A" Squadron was recruited mainly from 5th Australian Light Horse (31 men) and 6th Australian Light Horse (59 men). "B" Squadron came mainly from 7th Australian Light Horse (41 men) and 11th Australian Light Horse (62 men). "C" Squadron was recruited mainly from 9th Australian Light Horse (49 men).
 

  The regiment embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 20 October 1914 bound for the Gallipoli peninsula. Arriving on 9th. May 1915 the light horse served as a dismounted unit until November 1915 before joining the Anzac Mounted Division at the Western front in Egypt. George returned to Australia aboard the HMAT Ascanius on 2 September 1916 suffering from periostitis (a medical condition caused by inflammation of connective tissue surrounding the bone) and was medically discharged.

  On 4th. April 1920 he married Melinda Grace McFarlane in the St. Pauls Church of England at Temora. He then settled down to married life and with Melinda raised a family of three  Jean, Judith and Ronald . With the declaration of the second world war he once again enlisted on 13 August 1941 at Paddington in New South Wales. He joined the Second Australian Garrison Battalion as a Lance Sergeant and served until 3rd. January 1944. He did not see any active duty this time.

  George was a well respected member of the community and in a farewell speech to the Dunn's in 1926 the following was said, “They were good citizens. Mr.Dunn had shown public spirit by answering his country's call and still showed that public spirit in the district. They were good church workers and worked hard for Little Narraburra Hall. Mr. Dunn was a successful soldier settler who had helped build up the name of Carumbi.” He remained actively involved within his community giving his time and assistance in local projects such as  supervising the building of a cricket pitch at the local school in West Fairfield. As a freemason he belonged to  the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and was also actively involved with Church of England Mens Society in Australia.

  His involvement in the  Great War earned him the Victory medal, British medal and the 1914/1915 Star. In 1967,  the government of the day awarded him the Anzac Commemorative Medallion and Badge for his part at Gallipoli.  There is a war memorial in Mount Hunter dedicated to the 40 diggers who fought in WW1. It was refurbished in 2014 and the dedication ceremony was held on the centenary of Georges enlistment .On the 9th. February 1968 he passed away at the Concord Repatriation Hospital following a long illness and is buried at the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens.

Peter Tacon, June 2015