Branch of Service

Air Force

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

05/08/1942

Date of Discharge

30/01/1946

Place of Enlistment

Sydney NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

23/07/1919

Place of Birth

Queanbeyan NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Booroondara Street, Reid ACT

School(s) Attended

Hall Public School, Telopea Park School

Occupation

Public servant

Next of Kin

Norma Gillespie (wife), Booroondara Street, Reid ACT

Service Number

68498

Final Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Final Unit

3 Radio Installation & Maintenance Unit

Gillespie grew up at Hall and began in the Commonwealth Public Service in 1937 working at the stores depot in Kingston while studying accountancy at night. He married in 1941 and served with the RAAF at Nookanbah, Yanchep, DeGrey River, New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands. After the war he worked for the Public Service Board, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Works. He was Assistant Administrator of the Northern Territory (1960-63), Assistant Secretary Department of the Interior, Commissioner for Housing with the Department of the Capital Territory (1973-78) and City Manager of Canberra (1978-82). Gillespie was an expert on local history, writing numerous books and articles including 'Canberra 1820-1913' which was commissioned for the bicentenary.

He died on 24 January 2006 in Canberra and is buried at Woden Cemetery.

Jill Waterhouse, 'Lyall Gillespie' obituary,
Neil Gillespie, 'History of a Pioneer family of the Limestone Plains', 2005
Canberra Historical Journal, Canberra & District Historical Society, July 2006
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au