Role: Son of John Charles Dillon & Elizabeth Beattie Telfer — 4th child of the Dillon anchor couple
Born: 13 November 1862 — Maidstone, South Australia (book); 1862 (Find A Grave)
Died: 9 September 1942 — Edgerston (book); 1942 (Find A Grave)
Spouse (1): Matilda "Till" Langley (1863–1899) — m. 30 Apr 1895; buried Cudlee Creek
Spouse (2): Mary Ann (Gelligen) Dillon (1887–1954) — m. 29 May 1915, Adelaide; buried with him at Houghton
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|
| Father | John Charles Dillon (1827–1906) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Beattie Telfer (1832–1896) |
| Spouse (1) | Matilda "Till" Langley (1863–1899) |
| Spouse (2) | Mary Ann (Gelligen) Dillon |
| Daughter (1st m.) | Elva May Dillon Southwood (1896–1982) |
| Son (2nd m.) | Robert Frank Dillon (1915–?) |
| Son (2nd m.) | Leslie James Dillon (1916–1941) — Pte, KIA Tobruk 1941 |
| Son (2nd m.) | Henry John Dillon (1918–?) |
| Daughter (2nd m.) | Beatrice Mary "Popsy" (Dillon) Murray |
Siblings (per Find A Grave family network)
| Sibling | Dates |
|---|
| Elizabeth Esther Dillon Giddings | 1858–1945 |
| James (Telfer) Dillon | 1861–1951 |
| Henry Hatch Dillon | 1866–1936 |
| Septimus Dillon | 1871–1946 |
Life Summary
Robert Telfer Dillon was born 13 November 1862 at Maidstone, South Australia, the fourth child of John Charles Dillon and Elizabeth Beattie Telfer. He married Matilda "Till" Langley (1863–1899) in 1895; their daughter was Elva May Dillon, later Southwood. After Matilda died, Robert remarried in 1915 to Mary Ann Gelligen (1887–1954), younger by a generation (he was a widower of 51, she a spinster of 30 at the 1915 ceremony). Robert and Mary Ann had four children — Robert Frank Dillon, Pte Leslie James Dillon (1916–1941), Henry John Dillon, and Beatrice Mary "Popsy" Dillon. Robert died in 1942, Mary Ann in 1954; they share a grave at Houghton Cemetery.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 13 Nov 1862 | Born at Maidstone, South Australia |
| 30 Apr 1895 | Married Matilda "Till" Langley (1863–1899), who died 1899 |
| — | Daughter Elva May Dillon (later Southwood) born 1896 |
| 29 May 1915 | Married (2nd) Mary Ann Gelligen — Registry Office Adelaide (Book 263/615) |
| 14 Sep 1915 | Son Robert Frank Dillon born (Adelaide) |
| 2 Dec 1916 | Son Leslie James Dillon born |
| 20 Jan 1918 | Son Henry John Dillon born (Tea Tree Gully) |
| 8 Sep 1919 | Daughter Beatrice Mary "Popsy" Dillon born |
| 9 Jul 1941 | Son Pte Leslie James Dillon killed in action, Tobruk |
| 9 Sep 1942 | Robert died (aged 79) — buried Houghton Cemetery, Section E Row 10 Site 350 |
| 5 Sep 1954 | Second wife Mary Ann Gelligen Dillon died (aged 68) — buried same plot |
Sources
- Find A Grave: Robert Telfer Dillon (1862–1942) — memorial 192688162 — accessed 24 Aug 2026
- Find A Grave: Mary Ann Gelligen Dillon (1887–1954) — memorial 192688085 — accessed 3 Sep 2026
- Genealogy SA (official): Marriage Registration — Adelaide, Book 263/Page 615, 29 May 1915 — groom Robert DILLON (widower, 51, father John Charles DILLON), bride Mary Ann GELLIGEN (spinster, 30, father Matthew GELLIGEN) — member login, accessed 3 Sep 2026
- Find A Grave (gravestone photo): Houghton Cemetery, Section E Row 10 Site 350 — headstone commemorating Robert (d. 9 Sep 1942 aged 79), "ALSO Mary Ann, beloved wife of Robert Telfer, died Sept 5th 1954 aged 68", and "Pte Leslie James ... lost his life in action 1941 aged 25" — accessed 3 Sep 2026
- Source: Donald Telfer, A Telfer Family Tree (Supplement 2008), p.199 — swing 7 extraction, accessed 24 Aug 2026