Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence

97 Private William James Hill, 24th Battalion

I saw W J (Billy) Hill, whose number was 97, about a minute before he was killed instantly by a machine gun bullet through the heart at Pozieres about 3 am.  It was about a mile behind the line.  There was a hop-over that night and Hill and I had been leading reliefs up to front and were returning.  He was buried near where he fell and I saw the grave.  It was about 150 yards from Gibraltar big concrete dugout.  A rough cross was erected.  I think Billy Hill's people live at Diamond Creek, Victoria, but he came over from Hobart to join up.  He was an old RAGA man, about 30 years of age.  A very good fellow and well liked.

Informant:  Sgt H V Griffiths
24th Battn, H Q, Orderly Room.

The structure above is the remains of a German observation post, which stood on the western end of the village of Pozieres and was nicknamed 'Gibraltar' by the Australians. The post consisted of a concrete covered stairway down to a cellar from a house that formerly stood on the site and a larger, excavated chamber, and the whole housed three officers and 23 men. The occupants surrendered to a party from the 2nd Battalion on 23 July 1916 during the battle to wrest Pozieres from the Germans. Between 23 July and early September, the 1st, 2nd and 4th Divisions between them launched 19 attacks on German positions in and around the ruins of Pozieres.  About 28 August 1916.   Courtesy of Robyn Benjamin.

------------
Informant states that he knew Hill well, and describes him as follows:  Height 5' 11" to 6', ruddy complexion and had rather a jolly disposition.  Prior to leaving Australia on Service he was in the permanent RAGA.  He was in the Hqrs Signallers of the 24th Btn and was hit through the stomach by a Machine Gun bullet whilst on Signal duty, and died a few minutes after he was hit.  This happened at Pozieres on July 30th, 16, at Md-day.  Informant was not an eye witness but saw the body of deceased a few hours afterwards.  Unfortunately he cannot give any information as to burial etc.  He has an idea that Hill would be buried just where he fell, as there was so little time for anything.
Informant: Spr L Westhead no 310  
24th Btn Att ASC
Private address C/O GPO Sydney

--------------
He was about 5 ft 10 ins in height, fair complexion, about 30 years of age.  He was in charge of a party at Pozieres and while leading them out of the line was hit by several machine gun bullets and killed instantly. He is buried on Pozieres main road about 2 or 3 yards from where he was killed.  A cross is er3ected bearing his full particulars.

Informant:  F Oliver
c/o J Welton
Cressy

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1046430--1-.pdf