The AIF Project

John HILLIS

Regimental number1135
Place of birthBambridge, Co Armagh, Ireland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address6 Seafort Parade, Black Rock, Dublin, Ireland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 6"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs. Margaret Hillis, 6 Seafort Parade, Black Rock, Dublin, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil (exempt area under Compulsory Military Training scheme)
Enlistment date17 September 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll7 August 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 9 November 1915
31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D sailed on two ships, HMAT A62 Wandilla, 9th November 1915 from Melbourne, and HMAT A41 Bakara, 5 November 1915, from Melbourne. It is not possible to tell from the Embarkation Roll on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Pioneer Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 27 September 1917
Discharge date31 December 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Transferred to 5th Pioneer Bn, Tel el Kebir, 3 March 1916.

Found guilty, 26 April 1916, of (1) insubordination (2) while a priosner under open arrest leaving camp: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 16 May 1916; transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 17 May 1916 (venereal: soft chancre); discharged, 28 May 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 12 days.

Embarked Alexandria for England, 26 August 1916, and marched into 15th Training Bn, Lark Hill.

Found guilty, Perham Downs, 25 September 1916, of neglecting to obey an order on an N.C.O.: awarded 7 days' confined to camp.

Found guilty, 31 October 1916, of (1) appearing on parade unshaven (2) misbehaving in the ranks: laughing and talking: awarded 1 day's detention.

Proceeded overseas to France, 2 November 1916; taken on strength, 5th Pioneer Bn, in the field, 20 November 1916.

Wounded in action, 4 January 1917 (high explosive wound, right leg), and admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to Ambulance Train, 7 January 1917, and admitted same day to 12th General Hospital, Rouen (leg wound and shock); transferred to England, 12 January 1917 , and admitted to Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, 13 January 1917; discharged from hospital, 23 February 1917.

Marched out to Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth, for duty, 14 June 1917.

Found guilty, 30 June 1917, of, at Bulford, conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, viz. insolence to an N.C.O. in the execution of his duty: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Marched in to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 2 July 1917.

Detached to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, for duty with Anzac Provost Corps, 14 August 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Suevic', 27 September 1917; arrived Melbourne, 18 November 1917; discharged, Melbourne (wounded: gun shot wound, thigh; old blindness, right eye), 31 December 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Medal stamps marked 'returned 10/5/23'.
SourcesNAA: B2455, HILLIS John

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