William Keith Gillies

(Confirmed)

Born: 9 March, 1896

Died: 19 October, 1917

Biographical Summary:

Enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 and left for overseas service on 1 April 1916.  After further training in England, he joined the 15th Field Company Engineers in France in October 1916.  He was slightly wounded in action on 22 December 1916 but remained on duty.  After promotion to Second Lieutenant, he was transferred to the 8th Field Company Engineers on 11 October 1917.  He died soon after being wounded by artillery fire near Westhoek, Belgium, on 19 October 1917.

His diary is held by the State Library of NSW (see links in Main Sources below).  The following outlines its contents:

Describes voyage from Australia to Egypt and then to England on the troopship Makarini, 1 Apr.-8 June 1916, training in engineers training camp, service in France and Belgium as a sapper from 7 Oct. 1916, hospitalisation with pneumonia Jan. 1917, trench warfare Mar. 1917, pontoon bridging and bridge building June-Sept. 1917 and battle at Zillebeke Lake, Belgium 23 Sept. 1917 . Includes drawings of a map and AIF colours, and a newscutting.

 [JSB]

Recorded Names:

• William Keith Gillies

Service Number: 7073

Ranks:

• Held rank of Sapper
• Held rank of Lance Corporal
• Held rank of Corporal
• Held rank of Sergeant
• Held rank of Second Lieutenant

Birth Records:

• 1 January, 1896 in Marrickville, NSW, Australia

Death Records:

• 19 October, 1917 in Westhoek

Life Events:

• Enlisted at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Address:

• Sunnyside Lawry Parade Mosman NSW Australia

Relationships:

• father - William Gillies
• mother - Alice Victoria Josephine Rees

Organisations:

• Member of - 15th Field Company Engineers
• Member of - 8th Field Company Engineers

Main Sources:

• Gillies William Keith SERN 2nd Lieutenant POB Sydney NSW POE Sydney NSW NOK F Gillies William (Item)
• Discovering Anzacs William Keith Gillies (Webpage)
• Gillies William Keith SERN 2nd Lieutenant POB Sydney NSW POE Sydney NSW NOK F Gillies William (Item)
• Find War Dead GILLIES WILLIAM KEITH (Webpage)
• William Keith Gillies diary 22 March 191630 September 1917 (Webpage)
• William Keith Gillies diary 22 March 191630 September 1917 transcription (Webpage)
• Red Cross Wounded and Missing William Keith Gillies (Webpage)
• Roll of Honour William Keith Gillies (Webpage)
• First World War Embarkation Rolls William Keith Gillies (Webpage)
• Outdoor group portrait of members of Number 4 Section 15th Field Company of Australian Engineers Group photograph (Webpage)
• MEN AND WOMEN Personal Paragraphs Death of only son (Newspaper Article)
• ROLL OF HONOUR 21 November 1917 (Newspaper Article)
• ROLL OF HONOUR 5 December 1917 (Newspaper Article)
• ROLL OF HONOUR 19 December 1917 (Newspaper Article)
• ROLL OF HONOUR 28 December 1917 (Newspaper Article)
• Latest Casualties 363rd and 364th LISTS NEW SOUTH WALES Killed in Action (Newspaper Article)
• William Keith Gillies (Website)

Commemorations:

• GILLIES K. on the East Face of the
• Gillies on the Mosman Public School Roll of Honour