| Regimental number | 3012 |
| Place of birth | Kilmore, Victoria |
| School | Balmattum East State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 28 |
| Height | 5' 4" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Sister, Miss M Gillen, 909 Drummond Street, Carlton, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Driver |
| Unit name | Divisional Ammunition Column (Sept-Oct 1914) |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board Transport A7 Medic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Driver |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 3rd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Fate | Died of exposure |
| Place of death or wounding | France |
| Age at death | 31 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 31 |
| Place of burial | Dranoutre Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row K, Grave No. 8), Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 12 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Hugh and Katherine GILLEN; husband of Ruby GILLEN, St. James, Benalla, Victoria |
| Family/military connections | Brother in law: Cpl N. Richardson mentioned in despatches. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Joined Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 30 April 1915. Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Ceramic', 4 May 1915 (venereal); arrived Melbourne, 25 May 1915. Returned to Broadmeadows Camp for duty, 1 June 1915. Embarked Melbourne on board HT 'Persia', 10 August 1915. Taken on strength, Divisional Ammunition Column, Alexandria, 7 October 1915, and posted to No 4 Section. Found guilty, 20 October 1915, of irregularity whilst on sentry duty: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2. Appointed Gunner, 15 November 1915. Embarked Alexandria for Gallipoli, 15 November 1915. Transferred to 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, 21 November 1915. Admitted to No 1 Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, 10 December 1915 (supp. gland groin); discharged to duty, 31 January 1915; rejoined unit, Tel el Kebir, 5 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 23 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 March 1916. Mustered as Driver, 21 April 1916. On leave to England, 18 October 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 31 October 1917. Court of Enquiry, 16 January 1918, concluded that Gillen, 'whilst crossing the railway line, tripped and fell, striking his forehead on some hard object which rendered him unconscious and that he died of exposure following injuries accidentally received'.!MSBV |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, GILLEN Francis |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
