REILLY, Winn Lockyer KM (1899-1978)
Winn Lockyer Reilly was born on 13 March 1899, the son of Alfred James Commerford Reilly (1867-1941) and Edith Emily Carol nee Potter (1870-1948) who had married in London in 1895.
Winn became a day student at Geelong College in 1909, leaving in 1911. His address at enrolment was Prospect Road, Geelong.
An item in Sydney's Evening News entitled 'First Batch of Middies' listed him among the batch of cadet midshipman appointed effective from 31 December 1912. The Pegasus of May 1917 reported on his service, first when he left the Naval College:
'Wynne (sic) Reilly and C Calder left on January 17th (1917) with the first batch of midshipmen from the Royal Naval College to join the North Sea Fleet.'
He was later awarded the King's Medal:
'Cadet-Midshipman W L Reilly, who has been awarded the King's Medal. This medal is awarded annually to the Cadet-Midshipman of the senior year, who in the opinion of the Captain is most suited to receive it, and is usually accompanied by an autograph letter from the King. This is, we understand, the first time it has been granted to an Australian.'
Finally, he was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant:
'W L Reilly, KM, who left the Royal Australian Naval College in December 1916, and has since been employed in vessels in the North Sea, has passed his seamanship examinations for the rank of Lieutenant, and has been promoted to be acting Sub-Lieutenant.'
He re-enlisted during the Second World War and finished the war with the rank of Commander, having served with Special Intelligence. He was supposedly in line to be the first Admiral in the RAN, but allegedly declined the posting due to an accident on exercise, when a man was lost overboard.
He married on 21 November 1934, at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, NSW, Naomi Clara Elizabeth Williams (1913-1988).
In 1965, he ws a Trustee for the Navy League of Australia.
He died in New South Wales on 21 June 1978.
His brother, Dr Charles Patrick Cummerford Reilly (1906-1994), was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Evening News (Sydney) 6 Feb 1913 p2; Pegasus May 1917; NSW Government Gazette 27 Aug 1965 p 2772; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 291 (citing The Pegasus).