HILLIER, Arthur
| Service Number: | 2255 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia, 18 October 1884 |
| Home Town: | Woollahra, Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Woollahra Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 7 August 1915, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC Row N, Grave No. 9. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2255, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2255, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2255, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Karoola, Sydney |
Help us honour Arthur Hillier's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Arthur was the son of Adolphus Fredrick and Mary Louisa Hillier, of Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales.
Arthur married in 1908, but his wife passed away in 1914 before the war. They had a son called George Hillier, born in 1909, who was only six years of age when his father enlisted in April 1915, at thirty years of age.
Arthur only left Australia during June 1915 and was taken on strength of the 3rd Battalion on 4 August 1915, only a few days before the unit took part in the awfully heavy fighting at the Battle of Lone Pine, a trench brawl like no other, which lasted over five days and caused extremely heavy casualties amongst the assaulting units like the 3rd Battalion.
Arthur was reported missing during the battle, as were many others, as bodies were buried in any manner they could be disposed of, in amongst the trenches and saps of Lone Pine.
It was not until November 1916 that Arthur’s death was confirmed by a Court of Enquiry. During 1922, his remains were discovered by the Commonwealth War Graves people, identified by a scrap of paper on his person, which included his name and details. This scrap of paper was sent on to his parents, who also seemed to be guardians of Arthur’s son, George.
The boy was awarded a pension, and by the age of 13 at least knew that his father had a grave in Turkey.
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