Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Experiencing chronic turmoil, the 1876 marriage of Constable John Lillis 3412 and his wife, Ellen, ended with her 1906 Bendigo suicide. Thirty years of utter confusion as the constable charged his wife with attempting to murder the father of four in 1892, only to have a reconciliation leading to the birth of the fifth and sixth children, both boys, three and six years later.

In the intermittent period of time, the couple tragically shared the drowning death, in the Merri Creek, North Fitzroy, of a 14 years of age son, John James junior, in 1893, together with the death of their 20 years of age second born daughter, May Eveline, at Geelong in 1898

Arriving into a confused world at Geelong in 1898, sixth child and fourth son, Cornelius Raymond Lillis, moved to Rushworth upon the 1903 Victoria Police transfer of his father.

Beginning his schooling at Rushworth, 5 years of age Cornelius became known as ‘Con’ well aware of his mother’s alcoholism but never the less devasted, upon her 1906 Quarry Hill, Bendigo drunken suicide.

Falling victim to drink, Ellen Lillis née Nolan, was, when sober, an affectionate, kind wife and mother. Leaving the family home, about 10 a.m. on 6 July 1906, she went out shopping, returning three hours later in an intoxicated condition. Heeding her husband’s advice to lie down, half an hour later he discovered her with a cord woven around her neck. Evidently determined upon committing suicide, she tied the cord resulting in suffocation.

Tragically, it was well known that Ellen Lillis had been a heavy drinker for years, with South Geelong residents being acquainted with many freaks which she committed in fits of frenzy. Being well connected, as well as well educated, Ellen Lillis received remittances from England regularly.

Transferring to Quarry Hill, Bendigo, police station Senior Constable John Lillis, so resided, together with his remaining children, until obtaining a sergeant’s position at South Yarra police Station.

Enlisting, on 7 July 1915, with his father’s consent, 18 years of age, draper’s assistant, Cornelius Raymond ‘Con’ Lillis, cited 4 years experience with the 49th Artillery senior cadets.

Being assigned to the 10th Reinforcement, 6th Battalion, 173cm, 57kg, Private Con Lillis embarked from Melbourne, on 29 September 1915, aboard HMAT RMS Osterley.

Having fought at Gallipoli, losing Constable Ike Webster 5481, together with Constable Syd Smith 5540, as well as Detective Reg Penrose 5884, at Plugge’s Plateau, the 6th Battalion, assisting in the attack at Krithia, sustained the loss of Constable Angus MacPhie 5127, together with Constable Dave Hogben 5880.
Returning to Gallipoli, Constable Bert Fowles 5851 was lost at Shrapnel Valley, together with Constable Will Robertson 5911, at Pope’s Hill, along with 22 officers as well 391 other ranks.

Upon its withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt where it received reinforcements, including those accompanying Private Con Lillis, as well as engaging in defensive duties. During this time the AIF was reorganised and expanded as fresh divisions were raised. In order to spread experience across the new units, the existing units were split up with the 6th Battalion providing half its experienced officers and non-commission officers [NCOs] to the 58th Battalion.
Steaming from Alexandria, Egypt, on 26 February 1916 to disembark at Marscelles, France on 3 March 1916, the battalion was introduced to the Western Front in the British held French Flanders, close to Armentieres-Belgium border in what was known as the Bois Grenier or Fleurbaix sector. By this time, Spring 1916, due to the area seeing little serious fighting for almost a year, was nicknamed the ‘nursery sector’, enabling new formations being introduced to trench warfare.

Arrival on the Western Front, exposed the AIF to precision enemy artillery bombardment and sniping, the nursery sector enduring frequent sorties as well as attacks by German aircraft, together with gas attacks as well as the highly effective German Minenwerfer medium trench mortar.

On 5 May 1916, heavy German bombardment upon the 20th Battalion, holding the Bridoux Salient to the south-east of Bois Grenier, caused about 100 casualties.

Preliminary to this intense bombardment, on 3 May 1916, 19 years of age, Private Cornelius Raymond ‘Con’ Lillis 3077 was killed in action, a victim of one of the treacherous bomb explosions. Private Lillis is buried at “Y” Farm Military Cemetery [Row I, Grave 9], Bois-Grenier, France.

Cornelius Raymond Lillis

On 3 May 1916, in France, killed in action, Private Cornelius Raymond Lillis, 6th Battalion, beloved youngest son of Sergeant J. J. Lillis and the late Ellen Lillis, police station, South Yarra, and beloved brother of Mrs. Eva Orme, New Zealand; Mrs. Kathleen McGillivray, Thomas T., and James P. Lillis, aged 18 years and 3 months. R.I.P.
He gave up his young life and those he dearly loved for King and country.