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All that is scratched onto this negative of a soldier and a group of civilians is its number and ‘Miss Dilger.’ After some research is appears to be that of Private Cyril Claude Wills from Cygnet with members of his family. Cyril Wills mother was a ‘Dilger’ before she married Thomas Charles Wills.
Cyril Wills was a 20 year old single orchardist, originally from Derby when he enlisted on 21 January 1918. He was allotted to the reinforcements leaving Australia on HMAT A14 Euripides on 1 May 1918. His older brother William had enlisted in August 1915 and whilst serving with the 12th Battalion was awarded the Military Medal. After being taken on strength with the 40th Battalion on 2 July 1918, Private Cyril Wills kept being transferred to different units – first the Engineer Details—travelling to France with this unit (8th Field Coy Engineers) before being transferred to the 6th Australian Motor Transport Company, then the 1st Motor Transport Company. He was serving with the 4th Motor Transport Company when sent back to England for embarkation to Australia.