History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Leslie Edward Tilney

Leslie Edward Tilney

Leslie Edward Tilney is most well known in the radio world as the officer in charge of the Applecross, WA wireless station (callsign MNS during testing, then POP, then VIP) from the time of handover from the Australasian Wireless Co to the Postmaster-General's Department 1912-1914. Only a year after the G. A. Taylor / Kirkby / Hannam military wireless tests at Easter 1910, Tilney was assisting Cox Taylor at South Head Fort signalling to pilot steamer Captain Cook at Easter 1911. More widely Tilney was renowned as a hero of Gallipoli in 1915. He left Australia with the original 16th Battalion and later commanded the 13th Battalion. He was badly injured and invalided home, but soon recovered to the point he could take charge of the Blackboy Hill training camp at Perth where new recruits learned their skills prior to despatch to the battlefields of Europe. After WW1 he was appointed Deputy-Commissioner of Repatriation for Western Australia, then transferred to a similar role in Victoria and held this role till retirement in 1932.

Resources

A comprehensive biography of Leslie Edward Tilney has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Research - Leslie Edward Tilney - Summary of research to date

• Transcriptions and Notes - Leslie Edward Tilney - More than 10 transcriptions and notes

• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Leslie Edward Tilney - Nothing uploaded as yet, but several photos identified

• Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Leslie Edward Tilney - Coming real soon now!

Internet Material

A marvellous biography of Tilney has recently (2021) been prepared by the Maryborough Military Museum and needs only a little expansion on his wireless activities.