William Walter Gillen

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
Walter
Last Name: 
Gillen
Mother's Name: 
Alice Gillen nee Nicholls
Father's Name: 
James Gillen
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, May 24, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
20th Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Thursday, July 30, 1959
Place of Death: 
Wentworth Private Hospital, Sydney
Details: 

Walter Gillen (Service No 1728) was born in Wyalong, N.S.W. around 1895.  In 1914 Walter married Eva Kirkwood.

At enlistment Walter was 21 years old, worked as a blacksmith and was living at Helensburgh, N.S.W. 

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A61 Kanowna with 20th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements on 19th June 1915.  The troop arrived in Egypt and Walter was sent to Gallipoli, arriving on 31st August 1915.

He served on Gallipoli until admitted to hospital in Malta on 24th October 1915 with a fractured wrist which was sustained during fighting.  Walter was sent to hospital in Egypt and repatriated to Australia in February 1916; his wounding having resulted in a permenantly deformed wrist.  He was discharged medically unfit on 8th July 1916.

Walter died in Sydney in 1959 and is buried in Botany Cemetery.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, GILLEN W W