Lile, William

William John Lile Junior was born on 18 December 1907, the son of Inglewood butcher William John Lile Senior (1871-1955) and Edith Miriam Lile (nee Henderson) (1877-1951).

William was farming sheep in Inglewood when the Second World War began and his name was drawn in a ballot for three months’ service in 1940. His father appeared before the manpower committee in New Plymouth on 1 November 1940, pleading for his son to be allowed to remain at home for a little longer in order to help shear “700 sheep on 150 acres, 50 in Inglewood borough”. Lile Senior had no suitable accommodation for hired shearers, hence the need for his son’s help. The appeal was dismissed, although the committee did say that William was “not to be called for service before December 31”.

William then received notice to report at Trentham Army Camp for overseas service on 19 August 1941 with the 36th (Mixed) Battalion of the Second NZEF. He later served as part of N Force (also known as Norfolk Force) which was formed to defend strategic Pacific locations like Norfolk Island, Tonga and New Caledonia. He was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal.

William’s older brother Melvin Wennington Lile (1903-1974) also served in the war, as a Private with the Infantry Brigade.

William John Lile Junior worked as a railwayman and labourer until he retired in 1972, having never married or had children. He died in Wellington on 3 May 1976 at the age of 68 and was cremated in Taranaki.