Charles Hills Memorial

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c. 1918

Overview

Framed memorial to Charles Hills.
Outer frame made from decorative moulded plaster featuring botanical motifs. Inner portrait and biographical information surrounded by pre-printed card featuring the words "For King and Country", and illustrations of a Rising Sun badge, a black swan, kangaroo and a wreath made from the leaves, flowers and fruits of a gum tree, all representing Australia. At the base is a depiction of a lion representing the British Empire. On either side are the flags of Australia and the United Kingdom.

Historical information

Charles Hills was born in South Norwood, Surrey and migrated to Australia aged 15.
He enlisted, aged 20, in the 19th reinforcement of the 16th Battalion, A.I.F. - service number 6035.
He embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades on 7 August 1916.
He was killed in action on 29 March 1918 and was buried at Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2, Hebuterne, France.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00003

Item type

Artefacts

Ephemera

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Card

Molding Plaster

Photo Paper

Width

290 mm

Height or length

340 mm

Inscriptions and markings

At top of internal frame and partly obscured -
"For King and Country"

Central photo and biography -
"In Loving Memory of
PRIVATE CHARLES HILLS
No. 6035. 16th Battalion.

Enlisted in the A.I.F. in Albany on the 4th
of March, 1916, and went into camp at Blackboy,
in Perth, where he went through his preliminary
training. He sailed for England on the 17th of
August, 1916, completing his training in Codford
Camp, Salisbury Plains. He was then sent to
France, where he took part in the battles of
Pozieres, Bullecourt, Bapaume, and other his-
torical engagements. He was wounded at Bulle-
court on the eventful 11th of April, 1917, and was
sent to hospital in England, but recovered suffi-
ciently after three months to return to his unit.
It was on the 29th of March, 1918, that the above
hero made the supreme sacrifice at Hebuterne,
France. He was 23 years of age, and is buried
in a cemetery near to where he fell. His parents,
Mr and Mrs James Hills, reside in Perth-road,
Albany, West Australia."