Lieutenant Harold Joseph WILES moved to the Sunshine Coast district around 1954. He died in 1982 and is buried in the Woombye cemetery. Harry also served in World War 2 as a Lieutenant Colonel QX54945.
WILES, Harry Joseph
b. 15.11.1894 Bedford, England.
Enlisted: December 1915 Brisbane, Qld.
d. 15.01.1982
Next of Kin: Amy Wiles
Harry Joseph Wiles was awarded a Distinguished Service Order in February 1919 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, especially in leading fighting patrols to gain information. On one occasion, when within striking distance of the enemy, he engaged a party and killed five. As ‘Very’ lights went up and machine gun fire opened up, he crawled forward and brought back the required information himself. On another occasion he rushed an enemy standing patrol and captured another as prisoner, bringing him back under heavy fire. On that occasion, the only weapon Harry Wiles had was an empty revolver.
Harry Wiles married Amy May Peele in 1924.
WW2 QX54945 (Q27608), Lt. Col., 61 Infantry Battalion, D.S.O, AIF. Enlisted on 16.01.1943 at Taringa, Qld.
Amy died in 1989 and is buried with Harry, who is buried in the Military Section of Woombye Cemetery.
Source: National Archives of Australia; The Queenslander, Brisbane, 1 March 1919 pages 13, 14.
From the Genealogy Sunshine Coast publication
“AND THEIR NAMES SHALL LIVE FOREVER…”
REMEMBERING MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE OLD MAROOCHY SHIRE CEMETERIES – BOOK 1, WOOMBYE
Harry is not included in the Adopt a Digger database as he falls outside our criteria of living in the district before 1925. He is included in this gallery as he has lived in the district later in his life and is buried in a Sunshine Coast cemetery. Importantly, as a WW1 digger he still deserves to be recognised and commemorated by our project.