Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Melville LILBURNE was born in Ballarat, Victoria  in 1888

His parents were Arthur Edmond LILBURNE & Clara Jepson MORRIS

"Died of wounds and sickness in the 3rd London Hospital on 11th July, 1918, Lieutenant Arthur Melville Lilburne, M.C., son of Mr. A. E. Lilburne, of the Australian Mutual Provident Society.

He was born in Ballarat on the 4th of December, 1887, and he received his early education at School 33, Dana-street, Ballarat, where he made good progress, winning the Art Scholarship of the City Council, whereupon he went to the Art School, then in charge of Mr. P. M. Carew-Smyth, A.R.C.A. He also attended Grenville College under Mr. A. A. Buley, M.A.; and from there he went up for his matriculation examination, passing in all subjects and obtaining honors in three.

Continuing his studies at the Ballarat Art School, under Mr. H. H. Smith, he eventually became a teacher at that institution. Later, he obtained positions at the Alfredtown High School, and the art schools at Ballarat and Ballarat East. Mr. Carew-Smyth says he excelled as a designer and a teacher. He was transferred to the Teachers' College, Carlton, under Dr. Smyth, who reports that he was a most enthusiastic and capable lecturer, possessing the culture of his subject, thus being able to make his students appreciate its relation to other subjects. "He had," says the Doctor, "a fine personality, and revealed depths at times that convinced one that, later, he would be a power in his profession."

He enlisted about the 8th of February, 1916, went for preliminary training to the Broad-meadows Camp, and was recommended for the Officers' School at Maribyrnong. There he went through the course, passing both of the necessary examinations, the preliminary as first in the school, and the second as runner-up.

On the 3rd of October, 1916, he sailed for the front in the transport Aeneas as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 20th Howitzer Brigade, acting as lecturer in the Officers' School on board. He spent some further time in an Officers' School at Salisbury, and was in due course drafted to France, where he joined up with his unit, the 6th Battery of Heavy Artillery. Sent with his unit to Flanders, he was in several engagements, taking part later in the battle of Bullecourt.

He received his first serious wound in company with two senior officers, who were both killed. A shell burst and tore open the back of his left hand, lodging fragments of metal also in his arm, and bursting the drum of his left ear. He was rapidly sent back to England, and was in the 3rd General Hospital within 24 hours. This occurred on the 3rd of August, 1917.

After undergoing operations and passing through a period of convalescence, he was again it for duty, and rejoined his unit in France as 2nd Lieutenant on the 7th of December. He was, later on, promoted 1st Lieutenant on the field. He took part in the various engagements up to the 2st March, 1918, and in one of them was again seriously wounded and gassed, besides suffering from sprain to foot and ankle. He was again admitted to the 3rd London Hospital.

While there, he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. The official account runs thus:

"While a battery was being subjected to heavy shell-fire, he, at great personal risk, supervised the evacuation of all ranks to places of safety. On the following day, observing one of the gun-pits receive a direct hit, he, assisted by a N.C.O., collected a party of men, and got under control the fire which had broken out, thus saving a large amount of ammunition. He showed great courage and coolness throughout."

On the 15th of July, a cable was received, saying that he had died on the 11th in spite of the best skilled attention.

Lieutenant Lilburne was a good cricketer, footballer, and golfer, well-known among the clubs of Ballarat."

Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.