Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George and Eleanor LILLY

The Late Frank Lilly.
Mrs. Murdoch, sister of the late Frank Lilly, has received the following letter from J. A. Donaldson, from somewhere in France : —
" No doubt you will have heard of poor Frank's death long before this reaches you. I am just writing to let you know what happened. We were back in reserves at the time, and several of our planes  flew over us. One of the airmen fired on our men in the trenches — this was a German flying in one of our planes — with the result that Frank was hit in the throat. Frank said, ' I am hit,' and I believe  only lived about three minutes after. I don't think he was conscious after he said 'l am hit.' He was buried quite close to that spot, as I went round to see him after and was told he had been buried. He  only gave me your address two nights before this happened. I can assure you that the boys feel the loss very much, as Frank was a great favorite. My No. is 2763, the same Coy. as Frank. He and I have been together ever since we enlisted, as I happen to come from Narrogin. I can assure you you have my deepest sympathy in the great loss."
The following P.S. was added to above by Lieut. G. Henderson : —
" Frank was buried as stated above, but the same night I got his body and brought it down in a limber, and he is now buried in a military cemetery on the edge of a big wood, along with 12 other battalion boys. I am having a nice cross made for each of them, and it will be put up tomorrow afternoon. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was loved by all who knew him,  and  is a great loss to the battalion."

PTE. FRANK LILLY.
(Killed in action, March 1918, after 18 months in the trenches.) 
A well known member of the Post and Telegraph service ; enlisted from Williams, March 1916. His father and sister (Mrs. Dick Nesbit, whose husband, well-known in business circles on the Great  Southern line, died on active service), reside at 7 Brown-st., Subiaco.