Charles John DILLEY

DILLEY, Charles John

Service Number: 4725
Enlisted: 13 February 1916
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Australian Veterinary Hospital
Born: Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, 27 October 1884
Home Town: Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Mental Hospital Attendant
Died: Perth, Western Australia, 27 January 1960, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
Memorials: Claremont Hospital for the Insane Honour Roll
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World War 1 Service

13 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4725, 28th Infantry Battalion
17 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 4725, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
17 Apr 1916: Embarked Private, 4725, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Fremantle
23 Nov 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Division Signals, France
14 Jun 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4725, 2nd Division Signals, Shell Wound - leg
7 Nov 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Batman, Australian Veterinary Hospital
19 Apr 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4725, Australian Veterinary Hospital, per HT Sardinia to Fremantle
12 Jul 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 4725, Australian Veterinary Hospital

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Charles was the eldest of four children of John Dilley (b1858 in Bedfordshire, England) and Alice Emma Glover (b1864 in Bengal, India). John was ten years of age when he enlisted in the Royal Navy (Service No:106166) as an Engine Cleaner. He served as a Stoker and Batman on a number of ships, including the Asia and Limerick and was Discharged in 1908. John and Alice married in Bedfordshire in 1883 and following John's Discharge from the Navy lived in London. John was a Royal Navy Pesnioner, Publican and Farm Labourer.

Charles attended school in Donegal, Ireland when his father was stationed there in 1898, and in 1901 was working as a Fish Shop Assistant in London. He was a Barman in London, then a Farm Labourer in 1911 when he married May Leggett (b1889 in London, England). The next year, Charles and May emigrated, arriving in Fremantle WA in 1912 on board the Australian. The couple settled in Fremantle WA, where Charles worked as a Carter.

In March 1916 Charles was an Attendant at the Mental Hospital in Fremantle when he enlisted in the AIF (Private; Service No:4725). Charles served with 28 Infantry Battalion and 2nd Division Signals in France, where he was WiA in June 1918 (shell wound to leg). Charles was attached to Australian Veterinary Hospital when he was Discharged in July 1919. 

Following his Discharge, Charles and May lived in Fremantle and Perth WA where Charles worked as a Green Grocer and Labourer. Son Philip and Son-in-law Bertram served in WWII. Charles died in 1960 and May in 1966.

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