2107 (1140) Private William Lionel Green – Johnsonville/Ensay Killed in Action 8 May 1915

….. identity disc was returned to the family

William Green was born at Healesville in 1881 to William and Elizabeth. By the time he was three years old both his parents had died so William was raised by his maternal grandparents – the Lucas family of Ensay – and most particularly George Lucas of Bairnsdale. He went to school at Ensay and also helped around the farm at Johnsonville before becoming an engine driver and working at Corangamite. When he was 32 years old he enlisted on 21 September with the 6 th  Battalion. As fate would have it, Sydney Cox, Tom Hancher and William were on the Themistocles together on 22 December and they all died in the same battle at Cape Helles. They left Alexandria on 5 April for Gallipoli and William survived the landing only to be reported missing on 8 May and pronounced killed in action on 24 April 1916 with his identity disc being returned to the family. He is remembered on the Helles memorial at Gallipoli