Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the only son of Mr Herbert Tilley. Before enlistment he had been employed as a butcher. He embarked for France in 1916 and fought in numerous engagements. He was once buried by a shell explosion, and suffered from blood poisoning as a result, on another occasion he suffered the effects of being gassed. He was killed by a fatal bullet wound to the head and died in No. 53 Casualty Clearing Station, France. From a letter written by his Company Sergeant Major, it is explained that Herbert was killed by a sniper while he was putting a magazine on his Lewis gun of which he was the No.1. The letter went on to say:- “ He was a very good soldier, and one that could be relied upon at all times to do his duty, and I cannot remember even one occasion of him grumbling at any work he had to perform. As regards being a ‘fighter’ he was one of the best, and a capable man with his Lewis gun.”