

Omanawa mill hand Charles Walter Allan Lilley was killed in action at Le Cateau in France on 1 October 1918. Story by Debbie McCauley.
Charles Walter Allan Lilley was born in Dannevirke on 26 May 1897 (folio No. 1897/2599). His parents were Walter and Jane Allan Watt Lilley (nee McKinven) who married in Napier on 6 February 1891.
Charles worked as a mill hand for Gamman's Mill at Omanawa Falls in Tauranga. He was also a member of the 6th Hauraki's.
Charles enlisted to fight during World War I on 1 October of 1916, as part of the 22nd Reinforcements. With him were his brother Herbert James Allan Lilley (1893-1951) and friend John Ellison (1881-1918) who would later marry his sister Florence Jane Elizabeth Allan Lilley (1894-1965) whilst on leave on 3 January 1917.
Before departing for Trentham a social at the Omanawa school house was held for the three men. A large crowd gathered and enjoyed music and dancing until midnight. Presentations were made at supper with each man receiving a watch and hearty applause.
Charles served with the Auckland Infantry Regiment, Ist Battalion (Service No: 38414).
Lance Corporal Charles Walter Allan Lilley was killed in action at Le Cateau in France on 1 October 1918, aged 21. He is remembered on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial in the Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Charles's medals were sent to his father Walter at Omanawa Falls in Tauranga.
For more information about the Lilley family see the page on Private John Ellison.
References:
Ancestry.com.
Archives New Zealand: Military personnel file.
Auckland War Memorial Museum: Cenotaph Record.
Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (New Zealand).
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A version of this article was archived in August 2016 at Perma CC https://perma.cc/H78A-KQY7
Year: | 1918 |
Note: | Service Number: 38414 |
First Names: | Charles Walter Allan |
Last Name: | Lilley |
Date of Birth: | 26 May 1897 |
Place of Birth: | Dannevirke |
Country of birth: | New Zealand |
Date of death: | 1 October 1918 |
Place of death: | Le Cateau, France |
Place of burial: | Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France |
Occupation: | mill hand |
Fathers name: | Walter Lilley |
Fathers date of birth: | 1870 |
Fathers place of birth: | Mt. Grey Downs, Canterbury, New Zealand |
Fathers date of death: | 27 December 1933 |
Fathers place of death: | Tauranga, New Zealand |
Mothers name: | Jane Allan Watt McKinven |
Mothers date of birth: | 17 December 1860 |
Mothers place of birth: | Perth, Scotland |
Mothers date of death: | 31 August 1939 |
Mothers place of death: | Rotorua, New Zealand |
Military Service: | World War I (1914-1918) |