Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

My Grandfather Arthur George Francis Lillis was born in Morwell Victoria. His parents were John Edward James Lillis and Hannah Elizabeth Lillis nee Holloway and he had 11 other siblings. His brother John James Lillis (/explore/people/283088) was KIA 08/06/1917 at the Battle of Messines Ridge aged 19 and his name is on the Menin Gate as having  no known grave.

Arthur was raised in Korumburra till aged 25 he married Catherine Ruth Duffy at St Marys Church in Ararat,  he lived in Ararat till electoral roll show they had moved to Queens in Melbourne, Victoria. Arthur and Catherine had five children,  four boys and one girl from 1928 to 1936, Arthur George, Theresa Murial, John William, Raymond Anthony and the youngest, my father, Keith Lillis born on 10th May 1936 at Dalkeith Hospital South Melbourne, address on Electoral roll has them living at 42 Law street, South Melbourne.

On 18th August 1938 Arthurs wife Catherine died while pregnant from complications after being injured while attempting to move a wardrobe that fell on her thus leaving Arthur a widower, and  left to raise the five children alone. Arthur and the children moved in with the Payton family at 25 Canning St, North Melbourne somewhere between 1938 and 1940 and after enlisting on 8th June 1940 into 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion Service No.VX33273 wrote a will leaving custody of the children to Mrs  Mary Kaziah Payton dated 6th Nov 1940 .

On 27th June 1941, aged 39, Arthur was KIA at Balate Ridge, in the Battle for Merdjayoun. He was buried in a makeshift grave until re-located to his final resting place at Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetary, Syria. His children were raised by Mrs Payton as no family came forward to care for them even though living in the same area. Due to this not much was known about the family history. - Deborah Lillis