Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Miltiades’ A28 for Egypt 12.2.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Infantry, 28th Bn. , 9th Reinf.
Gillies disembarked with the 28th Bn. at Suez. He marched in to the 13th Training Bn. After a short period, he was transferred from the 28th Bn. to the newly formed 51st Bn. at Tel-el-Kebir 14.5.1916. He proceeded to Alexandria to join BEF 5.6.1916 and embarked per ‘Ivernia’ for France 5.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 12.6.1916. The 51st Bn. moved to the front line within a fortnight and fought at Mouquet Farm in August and September. It was here that Gillies was wounded in action with a GSW to his Buttock 17.8.1916. He was transferred by HS ‘Panama’ to England and admitted to Hospital 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell 19.8.1916. Gillies was transferred to Perham Downs 9.11.1916 to 24.11.1916. Gillies was listed as wounded in the 220th Casualty List. (Kalgoorlie Miner 3.10.1916 p24) He was admitted to Bulford with a debility 10.8.1917. On recovery, Gillies proceeded overseas for France 7.2.1918 He rejoined his Unit 16.2.1918. The 51st Bn. fought around Dernancourt and at Villers-Bretonneux during 1918. Gillies became sick with the influenza 19.11.1918. He was taken by the 15th Field Ambulance to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station. On discharge from hospital he rejoined his unit 21.12.1918. Gillies was hospitalised again with a debility 28.12.1918. He re-joined his unit 11.2.1919.
Embarked for Australia per HT ‘Bremen’ 4.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked 18.7.1919.
Discharged 7.9.1919.
Final Rank Private, 51st Bn.
Medical Condition. NK
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes  20 A & B Waylen St were originally listed as one home, accordingly the owners were one family and both 20 A &B are listed together. The 1st London general Hospital at Carlton Rd. Camberwell, was previously the St Gabrielles Girls School and was commissioned as a  Territorial  Forces War Hospital in 1915
Photos A.D. Gillies. Photograph source Sunday Times 14.2.1917 p8
             HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P08559.001
             View of the old Mouquet Farm Battlefield December 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00564
             1st London General Hospital (TF) Camberwell, London
             Villers-Bretonneux, ruined church 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E02157
             A.D. Gillies. Image source Swan Express 15.9.1916 p9

Information Source
AWM P08559.001HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0056. View of the old Mouquet Farm Battlefield December 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02157. Villers-Bretonneux, ruined church 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Alfred Donald Gillies
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455 Gillies A D
St Matthew’s Church Honour Roll
Sunday Times
Swan Express
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories 1916. SLWA
1st London General Hospital (TF) Camberwell. Image B. Dundas


20 (A&B) Waylen St.Guildford. WA.

Associated Images