Dr. George Austen Lilly was born in 1888 in St Pancras. During World War I he served in the Medical Corps and on Hospital ship HMHS Albion, earning the Military Cross in 1918 whilst serving in France with the 9th Lancers.
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In order to attend the wounded he frequently crossed an exposed piece of ground 300 yards in length. Later, when the horses had to be moved owing to heavy shelling, he rescued a badly wounded man, carrying him to safety” (London Gazette, 26th July 1918)
Dr George Lilly served as Medical Superintendent at Cane Hill between 1931 and 1949, when he left to take up a post as commissioner of the Board of Control. He had joined Cane Hill in 1919 as fourth assistant medical officer, subsequently serving as Deputy Superintendent at nearby Banstead Hospital for 5 years. He had also had experience from working at Hanwell and Bexley Asylums.
He died in Chichester in April 1970
i have my family Death Cert dated 1946 (Registration District. Surrey mid-eastern. Sub District Beddington & Coulsdon County of Surrey) signed by what looks like a- G A LILLY-States Chief Resident Officer The Hospital Croydon,