KILLIAN, Bert Vincent
| Service Number: | 4828 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915, Enlisted in Bendigo |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Jeweller |
| Died: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 10 May 1969, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Banksia - Tenure expired |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo Marist Brothers College Great War Honour Roll, Golden Square Fire Brigade Pictorial Honour Roll, Victorian Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4828, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Bendigo | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4828, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4828, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| Date unknown: | Honoured Military Medal, Recommendation- Decoration Militaire (Belgium) 'On his devoted attention to duty from June 1917 to date, as runner on Divisional Headquarters Staff. His bearing was conspicuous during the following operations - Messines - June 1917 - PloegSteert - July 1917 - Hytchaete - August 1917 - Ypres Sector - September and October 1917. Whilst Stationed at the Ramparts, YPRES in October 1917 he was called upon regularly to carry out his duties as Runner during periods of heavy shelling and he never failed in completing his tasks. He is strongly recommended for recognition. Recommendation date: 22 December 1917 Major –General, Commanding 4th Australian Division G.O.C Division - Honour or Reward – Decoration Militaire |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Jack Coyne
Bert Vincent KILLIAN
Decoration Militaire (Belgium)
Recommendation-
'On his devoted attention to duty from June 1917 to date, as runner on Divisional Headquarters Staff. His bearing was conspicuous during the following operations
- Messines - June 1917
- PloegSteert - July 1917
- Hytchaete - August 1917
- Ypres Sector - September and October 1917.
Whilst Stationed at the Ramparts, YPRES in October 1917 he was called upon regularly to carry out his duties as Runner during periods of heavy shelling and he never failed in completing his tasks. He is strongly recommended for recognition.'
Recommendation date: 22 December 1917
Major –General, Commanding 4th Australian Division
G.O.C Division - Honour or Reward – Decoration Militaire
Bert Killian was appointed captain of the newly formed YMCA junior football team in June 1914. [1] By the time the following season came around, Bert had answered the call and enlisted in August 1915. Just two weeks later his father, Eugene would pass away as Bert was making his way to camp. His mother had passed away 15 years earlier and two sisters and brother remained in Bendigo.
Bert had been an apprentice Jeweller and watchmaker with his uncle Karl Killian at their store in Mitchell Street. The family Jewellery store had been a Bendigo establishment for many years.
On arriving in France he was transferred to the Australian Cycling Corp. Each of its five infantry divisions was allocated a company of cyclists in accordance with the British New Army establishment adopted at that time. Bert transferred to the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion attached to the 4th Division. The cyclists were used as despatch riders, while also conducting reconnaissance and patrolling.
The Age newspaper published the following report on June 17, 1918 under the heading, Decoration Militaire.
The Decoration Militaire has been awarded by the King of Belgium to the following Australian soldiers for distinguished service: —
2714 Sergeant Norman Francis Woodworth.
1276 Sergeant John William Raitt
4000 Lance-Corporal William Wilson
4828 Private Bert Vincent Killian
1671 Private Thomas Lowrey. [2]
Four of these five men in the Cyclist Brigade recommended for the Belgium medal would return from the war.
Bert returned to Australia on the on May 12, 1919.
SERVICE DETAILS;
Regimental No: 4828
Place of birth: Bendigo 1897
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Jeweller
Address: Mitchell Street, Bendigo & Pyke street, Quarry Hill.
Marital status: Single
Age at embarkation: 18
Next of kin: Father, Mr Eugene Killian, Quarry Hill, Bendigo, Died 13 Aug 1915. Mother – Katherine Cleveland.
Enlistment date: 4 August 1915
Unit name: 7th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement, 4th Division HQ Cyclist Brigade
Embarked: HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March 1916
Final Rank: Private
Fate: Returned to Australia 2 July 1919 Port Napier
Died: 10/05/69
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 137
Date: 30 August 1918 on page 1782 at position 35
Date of death: 10 May 1969
[1] Bendigo Advertiser Tue 23 Jun 1914. Page 3
[2] The Age Newspaper, June 17, 1918. Page 6
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