Beresford Stanley "Beres" Reilly (17 September 1914 – 23 July 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club, Melbourne Football Club and St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family The third of the five children of William John Reilly (1882–1964),Deaths: Reilly, The Age, (Tuesday, 2 June 1964), p.20. and Winifred Frances Reilly (1886–1964), née Knopp,Deaths: Reilly, The Age, (Tuesday, 16 June 1964), p.16. Beresford Stanley Reilly was born at South Melbourne, Victoria on 17 September 1914.
He married Mary Margaret Purves on 4 January 1941.All-White Ensemble Worn by Bride: Reilly—Purves, The Argus, (Monday, 6 January 1941), p.6.
Football Representing a Victorian schoolboys team, he tried out for the Footscray Football Club. He wasn't given a game and as such moved on to North Melbourne.
Military service He was a good friend of Keith Truscott, who was also killed in World War II. Serving as a Pilot Officer in the RAAF, Reilly was killed when his Martin Baltimore aircraft crashed over Crete. All 4 on board died in the crash.RAAF Casualties: Overseas: Previously Missing, Now Presumed Dead: Reilly, The Argus, (Monday, 27 March 1944), p.5.Deaths: Reilly, The Argus, (Tuesday, 16 May 1944), p.2.In Memoriam: Roll of Honour – On Active Service: Reilly, The Argus, (Tuesday, 23 July 1946), p.15.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Notes
References
Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Reilly, Beresford", pp. 323–326 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. World War Two Nominal Roll: Pilot Officer Beresford Stanley Reilly (401583), Department of Veterans' Affairs. World War Two Service Record: Pilot Officer Beresford Stanley Reilly (401583), National Archives of Australia. World War Two Casualty/Repatriation Record: Pilot Officer Beresford Stanley Reilly (401583), National Archives of Australia. Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Pilot Officer Beresford Stanley Reilly (401583).
External links
Beres Reilly, at Demonwiki