Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.

Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.

Detail :

RAMC WW1: William as educated at Newton Abbott College; and at University College Hospital, where he obtained his M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P in 1891, and his M.B. in 1894. He held the post of house physician at the Brompton Hospital, whilst also serving with the Territorial Force. William served in the South African War 1900-1901 - taking part in the operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900; the operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria from July to 29th November 1900; the operations in Orange River Colony from May to 29th November 1900; operations in Cape Colony, North of Orange River; operations in Orange River Colony from 30th November 1900 to May 1901, and those in Capt Colony. For this he gained the Queen's Medal with four clasps. On 10th July 1901, he obtained a commission as Hon. Lieutenant in the 3rd Bn. Royal Fusiliers. He was promoted to Captain, and was attached to the 3rd Bn London Regiment on 20th September 1914. He then went to the Dardanelles, entering the war in Gallipoli from August 1915. He died at Sulva Bay. William was the only surviving son of John Bryant Rielly of Rangoon; and the husband of Annie Julia (2nd daughter of James Stuart) of 4 Nassau Road, Barnes - married at Barnes Paris Church on 9th July 1904.

Fusilier Museum London: "Captain William Ernet Rielly, R.A.M.C. attached 2/3rd London Regiment. Died at the Dardenelles on November 28th, 1915. He served in the South African War, and held the Queen's medal with four clasps. He held the rank of honorary Lieutenant int he army and a commission as Captain in the Territorial Force Reseve of the 3rd Battalion London Regiment from March 27th, 1901, but was transferred to serve as Captain and medical officer of the same battalion from September 26th, 1914."

For more information: https://fusiliermuseumlondon.org/download?id=12392

He died on the 28th November 1915 aged 35 and is Remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey Panels 199 and 200 or 236 to 239 and 328.

Masonic :

PM
His membership jumps around:
He was initiated into De Grey & Ripon Lodge No. 905 at the Cafe Royale, Regent Street in 1894. Recorded as a 26 year old Physician resident at 32 Hilldrop Road, N. He appears to be in arrears towards the end of the 1888-1898 Ledger, with an annotation of Lodge 2408. His membership is still in arrears when he is excluded 28th October 1901. He had already joined Hampstead Lodge No. 2408, and is shown to have moved residency to "2 Acol Rd W. Hampstead", and profession shows L.R.C.P. His membership of Hampstead Lodge ceases 21.11.05. He further joined Royal Rose Lodge No. 2565 on 13th December 1897 from Wharton Lodge No. 2045, at the same address, but now as a 2nd Lieut what appears to be 3rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment). Note, though, he isn't recorded against L2045, so that entry is more than likely a mistake).

He joined, as petitioning and founder member of the Royal Thames Lodge No. 2966, warranted to meet from 7th May 1903, citing Lodge Royal Rose Lodge No. 2565 for his former or ongoing membership.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley