HILL, Alexander James
| Service Numbers: | 2797, 529, 529N |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 April 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | First Class Air Mechanic |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Mount Macedon, Victoria, 4 January 1879 |
| Home Town: | Lewisham, Sorell, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Seaman/Mechanic |
| Died: | Natural causes, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, 4 May 1946, aged 67 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales Section 5, 0296 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 23 Mar 1901: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Trooper, 2797, 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 13 Apr 1916: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman Driver, 529, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 1916: | Embarked Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman Driver, 529, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, HMAT Clan MacEwen, Melbourne | |
| 9 Oct 1916: | Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman Driver, 529, 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '24' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan MacEwen embarkation_ship_number: A65 public_note: '' | |
| 2 May 1917: | Involvement Second Class Air Mechanic, 529N, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), 67 Squadron Royal Flying Corps | |
| 2 May 1917: | Transferred Australian Flying Corps (AFC), 67 Squadron AFC | |
| 5 Jun 1919: | Discharged First Class Air Mechanic, 529N, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
Alexander James Hill 1879 - 1946
Alexander James Hill was born in Mt Macedon, Victoria on 4th January 1879, the youngest of 7 children. A first generation Australian, Alec's father Alexander Hill emigrated from Scotland to Tasmania in 1855, his mother Honora Fleming emigrated from Ireland to Tasmania the year prior in 1854.
Alec's father died shortly after his birth, so he was sent to live with his uncle Henry Fleming in South Western Tasmania. At age 14 he embarked on the "Samaritan" a four masted barque (McVicar, Marshall & Co), working on various vessels before enlisting to serve in the Boer War.
Alexander James Hill - Service Number 2797, Rank:Trooper, Unit: 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles. Embarked Sydney 5/4/1901, disembarked Durban 12/5/1901. The unit took part in operations in the Eastern Transvaal and Eastern Orange River Colony in 1901-2. It also took part in several drives in the early part of 1902, the principal one, the Harrismith drive, resulting in the capture of 251 prisoners, 26,000 head of cattle, and 2,000 horses. Embarked Cape Town 4/5/1902. Disembarked Sydney 3/6/1902. The unit was then disbanded.
At the conclusion of the Boer War Alec returned to sea, sailing with the Sir W. Tatem line of "tramp" steamers.
At the outbreak of WW1 Alec was in Odessa. He returned to Australia to enlist on 17th April 1916. Service Number: 529, Unit: Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, embarked from Melbourne on 9th October 1916; disembarked Suez 8th November 1916. He served in Egypt, Suez, El-Arish, Kubri. Alec was transferred to 67th Squadron Royal Flying Corps 2nd May 1917, and promoted to Air Mechanic 1st Class (Sergeant) 13th December 1918. At the end of the campaign he embarked the Kantara 4th March 1919, disembarking Sydney on 14th April 1919 and subsequently discharged.
Following the war Alec took part in various expeditions sponsored by Lebbeus Hordern, (who is credited with first having brought seaplanes into Australian waters), along with pilot with Frank Hurley the celebrated photographer, the team undertook extensive aerial survey work along the coast of NSW and New Guinea. Alec was the expedition air mechanic.
He returned to Sydney in 1922, married Gladys Geneveive Felton on 26th September 1923. They had 4 sons.
Alexander James Hill died on 4th May 1946 at Concord Hospital. He is interred at Woronora Cemetery Section 5, 0296.
Submitted 2 November 2016 by Kate Knight
Biography contributed by Kate Knight
"HILL.- May 4, 1946 at the 113th Hospital, Concord, Alexander James, loved husband of Gladys and loving father of Frank, Brendan (RAN), Kevin and Terry.
Recquicscat in pace." - from the Sydney Morning Herald 06 May 1946 (nla.gov.au)
Official memorial erected at Woronora Cemetery by Office of War Graves (Dept of Veterans Affairs) for Air Mechanic 1, Alexander James Hill, as of October 1991. Section 5, 0296.
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