Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Joseph Frederick Hillier
Ancestor's date of birth: 14/07/1879
Ancestor's date of death: 18/06/1957
Cause of Death: Age related
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born at Kialla east 15 kilometres east of Shepparton the son of a farmer. He himself became a farmer.
Service Number: 485
Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Shepparton
Unit: 3rd Victorian Imperial Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 01/03/1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War service.
Murray Page: 247
Contingent: Third Victorian
Ship: SS Euryalus, Date of Sailing: 10/03/1900
Memorial details: Shepparton Cemetery
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal, Rhodesia and South Africa 1901
Personal Characteristics: His height was 166 cm. His squadron OC Capt Ham said of him I shall always remember him as one of the bravest and hardest working soldiers of the garrison (Elands River) An obituary in the Trotting Record 10-6-1957 said his determination and indomitable courage were noteworthy.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.
Details of service in war: He disembarked in Beira 3 April 1900 with his unit and was appointed Capt Ham's orderly.Service: April 1900 - April 1901 as part of Vialls' 3rd Bushmen Regt in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including skirmish at Koster River where six killed (22 July 1900). He was part of the Elands River Siege. At the skirmish at Marico River 22 August 1900 he was badly wounded with a bullet to the elbow and three in his knee. This led to his right arm being amputated at Kimberley 7 September 1900. His kneecap was severely injured restricting his movementHe was sent to England in Feb/Mar 1901 for further medical attention where he remained until September of that year. Returning home he was discharged medically unfit for further service having returned on the SS Oroya on 18 December 1901. He was awarded a pension of 2 shillings (20 cents post metrication; in values 1902->2012 $100) per day for life.
Service and life after the Boer War: He returned to Shepparton and worked at a ford and Sons flour mill. He developed a life long interest in Trotting and played and active part in agitating for night trotting in Victoria. He trained and broke in his own horses he had bred and learned to write with his left hand. From the 1920s he was a Director of the Shepparton Butter Factory for 27 years and worked his property Akeland. He died in Mooroopna Hospital. A book on his life was published. Kialla East Hero-Joseph Hillier by Myrtle L Ford 1989 He took a prominent role in the activities of the SASA
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Sue Rimmer, Waramanga ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece
