World War One Veterans - Lilydale Local History - They Answered the Call

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They Answered the Call – A

Please Note: Those service personnel without a Service Number means we have not been able to establish we have found the right person. If you can help us with more information, please contact us via our enquiry form and we will happily add the relevant information.

A’Beckett, Malwyn Hayley Major DSO
Service No: Major
Occupation: Grazier
Address: Silvan and 59 Sutherland Rd. Armadale
Date of Enlistment: May 12, 1916
Age at Enlistment: 44 years
Marital Status: Married
Physical Description: 5ft 8in tall, 10stn 2lbs
Next of Kin: Wife Mary Edith A’Beckett
Rank on Enlistment: Captain
Unit Name: 44 Btn
Embarkation Details: June 6, 1916 from Melbourne on HMAT Suevic A29
Places and dates of service:

1916 July 21: to Plymouth England
916 August 30: Promoted to Major
1916 September 25: on command to School of Instruction England.
1916 November 26: to LeHaure France.
1917 October 4: wounded in action – in the field Belgium.
1917 November 17: to hospital sick (myalgia).
1918 January 22: Appointed Companion of Distinguished Service Order.
1918 April 7: Mentioned in Despatches (by Sir Douglas Haig).
1918 October 30: Mentioned in Despatches.

Service injuries: 
1917 October 4: wounded in the field Belgium ( not specified) remained on duty.

Returned to Australia:  to Melbourne on HT Marathon, December 24, 1918.
Discharge Date: February 13, 1919.
Rank at Discharge: Major
Honours/Medals: Distinguished Service Order Medal, Mentioned in dispatches twice, British Service Medal, Victory Medal.
Memorials: Silvan Honour Board
Family Story:

Family Story: Malwyn was born in Prahran on January 4th 1872, his parents are not known. He married Mary Edith and family is not known. His death and burial place is not known.
His 1932 address was “Larnoo” Parker Rd. Silvan.

Ackerman, Alfred Charles No Service Number
Service No: No service number – shown as HS Home Service
Occupation: Labourer
Address: John Street Lilydale
Date of Enlistment: February 26, 1917
Age at Enlistment: 39 years 5 months
Marital Status: Married
Physical Description: 5ft 5 ½ in tall, 136lbs, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion
Next of Kin: Agnes Mary Ackerman
Rank on Enlistment: Driver
Unit Name: Transport Unit Home Service
Embarkation Details: Not applicable
Places and dates of service:

Remained in Australia.

Returned to Australia: Not applicable
Discharge Date: May 21, 1919
Rank at Discharge: Driver
Honours/Medals: Not applicable
Memorials: Shire of Lillydale Memorial Board, Methodist Church of Lilydale Honour Board
Family Story:

Alfred was born in 1878 at Charlton Somerset England. He married Agnes Mary and they lived in John Street Lilydale and they had two children. He was given dispensation to stay in Australia because his wife was seriously ill and he had children dependent on him. He worked as a driver with the transport unit home service. Very little has been found about his family or his death.

Ackerman, G.

Aitken, N.

Aitken, R.

Aitken W.

Albury S.

Allen, George Henry 3006
Service No:  3006
Occupation: Labourer
Address: Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale, Victoria
Date of Enlistment: July 20, 1915
Age at Enlistment: 25 years
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5 feet 6 inches, 10 st 1lbs, chest 34 36 ½ inches, eyes brown, hair black
Next of Kin: Father Charles Allen
Rank on Enlistment: Private
Unit Name: 8th Battalion
Embarkation Details: November 20 1915, Melbourne, H.M.A.T. ‘Commonwealth’


Places and dates of service:

1915 July 21: 1st Depot Ball Seymour.
1915, November 19: Departed Melbourne.
1916 July 26: Admitted to 5th General Hospital, with Gunshot wound Buttock.
1916 July 28, Admitted to Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital , Harbourne, Birmingham and Discharged August 28, 1916.
1917 May 13, Transferred to England.
1917 April 29: Wounded in action 2nd Occasion.
1917 May 3: Admitted to 5th General Hospital, with gunshot wound left arm.
1917 May 13, Transferred to England.
1917 June 5: Discharged from Greve Military Hospital Richmond.
1917 October 25: Killed in Action, in the field Belgium. Buried Australian Section, 3rd Echollon G.H.Q., British Expeditionary Force.

Returned to Australia: N/A
Discharge Date: N/A
Rank at Discharge: Private at time of death
Honours/Medals: Memorial Plaque, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Scroll, 1914/15 Star.
Memorials: Listed on Lilydale War Memorial; Lilydale Presbyterian Church Honour Board; Lilydale Rechabites Honour Board; Lilydale Fire Brigade Honour Board;and Shire of Lillydale WWI Honour Board.
Family Story:

George Allen’s mother was Edith Elizabeth Allen, 733 Burwood Rd Auburn Victoria.

Anderson, Arthur Frederick 3006
Service No:  3006
Occupation: Railway Employee
Address: Main St Lilydale
Date of Enlistment: July 28, 1915
Age at Enlistment: 19 years 10 months
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5 feet 6 inches, 158 lbs, chest 35/38 inches, dark, eyes brown, hair brown.
Next of Kin: Mother Elizabeth Anderson.
Rank on Enlistment: Private
Unit Name: 7th Battalion, Late 7/21 Battn
Embarkation Details: October 15, 1915, Melbourne, HMAT Whiltshire.

Places and dates of service: 1916 January 13: 1st Gen. 180, Admitted Febucula at Helioplis,
1916 February 24: Alloted & proceeded to join 7th Battn ex Zeltoun.
1916 March 4: Joined 7th Battn at Serapeum.
1916 April 2: Arrived in France with the British Expeditionary Force.
1916 August 1: Appointed Lance Corporal ‘in the field’ France.
1916 August 10: Promoted Corporal, France.
1916 February 24: Taken on strength of 7th Battalion from 21st Battn.
1916 August 18: Reported Missing.

Service Injuries:
Died in the field. Buried Delville Wood Cemetery,5 ½ miles South/South West of Bapame, France. Plot 2 Row R Grave 2.

Returned to Australia:  Not Applicable
Discharge Date: Not Applicable
Rank at Discharge: Corporal at time of death.
Honours/Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1914/15 Star, Memorial Scroll.
Memorials: Lilydale War Memorial.
Family Story:

Not known.

Anderson, Joseph Ringland Captain MC
Service No: Captain
Occupation: Medical Practitioner
Address: 2 Highbury Grove Kew
Date of Enlistment: May 1, 1917
Age at Enlistment: 22 years
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5ft 10 ½ in tall, 154lbs, green eyes, brown hair, fair.
Next of Kin: Father Rev. Joseph Ringland Anderson
Rank on Enlistment: Captain
Unit Name: Aust. Army Medical Corp.
Embarkation Details: May 9, 1917 at Sydney on HMAT Ulysses.
Places and dates of service:

1917 July 29: to Plymouth England for training.
1918 February 2: to Boulogne France.
1918 February 3: posted to 3rd Australian Hospital in the field France.
1918 March 31: posted to 13th Field Ambulance France.
1918 April 16: posted to 45th Btn. France.
1918 September 18: awarded Military Cross in France.

Military Cross Citation:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack west of Bellenglise, north of St.Quentin, on the 18th September, 1918. During a protracted advance he established his R.A.P. well forward in the open, and continued with cool courage to attend the wounded under heavy shell fire. His efforts saved many lives.”

Returned to Australia: October 20 1919 to Melbourne on HMAT Euripides.
Discharge Date: November 27, 1919.
Rank at Discharge: Captain
Honours/Medals: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Memorials: Not known
Family Story:

Joseph was born in Lilydale to parents Joseph Ringland Anderson and Annie Love Elder Guthrie. In December 2, 1919 he married Isabel Mary McComas at the Presbyterian Church in Kew. Joseph’s father was the Reverend at Lilydale Presbyterian Church from 1892-1902, he married Annie on August 27, 1890 at Rokewood. He was born at Killylea Ireland and came to Australia in 1881.

Joseph attended school at Lilydale State School, Scotch College and Melbourne University, where attained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery 1916. He was Regiment Medical Officer of the 45th Btn. After the war he did Post-graduate studies at the Royal London Ophthalmological Hospital. He was a Member and Fellow of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia, Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh Scotland) and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Armstrong, C.
Arnott, Archibald 11803
Service No: 11803
Occupation: Plasterer
Address: Main Street Lilydale
Date of Enlistment: September 18, 1915
Age at Enlistment: 22years
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5ft 7 ½ in tall, 10stn 2lbs, brown eyes, dark hair, fresh complexion.
Next of Kin: Father, Archibald Arnott
Rank on Enlistment: Private/gunner
Unit Name: 4th Btn.
Embarkation Details: January 28, 1916 Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles A32.
Places and dates of service:

1916 February 29: to Zeitoun Egypt.
1916 March 9: to Tel-el-Kebir Egypt.
1916 March 14: to Alexandria Egypt.
1916 March 19: to Marseilles France.
1917 March 9: in the field France
1918 December 6: sick (rheumatism, myalgia) in the field France.
1918 December 10: to Rouen Hospital France
1919 February 19: to Havre France.
1919 March 1: transfer to Aust. Base Reception Camp France.
1919 June 7: Returned to Australia.

Service injuries: NIL

Returned to Australia: July 23, 1919 Melbourne on Ulysses. 
Discharge Date: October 25, 1919
Rank at Discharge: Gunner
Honours/Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Memorials: Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll, Lilydale State School Honour Roll.
Family Story:

Archie was born August 5, 1897 to Archibald Arnott in Lilydale, where he attended the Lilydale State school. After returning home from the war he married Agnes, and at the time of his enlistment in 1941 to go to WW2, they had two children under 16years, and was a truck driver living at 33 Deakin Ave. Mildura South. After discharge from WW2 1944 he had served 752 days. Total period of service 976 days.

Atkinson, Albert Robert 17893
Service No: 17893
Occupation: Railway Employee
Address: Wandin Road,  Lilydale
Date of Enlistment: July 8, 1916
Age at Enlistment: 38 years 11 months
Marital Status: Married
Physical Description: 5ft 9in tall, 140lbs, blue eyes, brown grey hair, medium complexion
Next of Kin: Wife,  Amy Eva Atkinson
Rank on Enlistment: Corporal
Unit Name: Army Medical Corp. reinforcements
Embarkation Details: August 4, 1917  Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles.
Places and dates of service:

1917  October 2: to Glascow  Scotland.
1917  December 6: to AAMC  France.
1918  March 2: transfer to 5th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Coy.  France.
1919  June 21: Returned to Australia.

Service Injuries: NIL

Returned to Australia: August 13, 1919 to  Melbourne on Konigin Luise
Discharge Date: September 12, 1919
Rank at Discharge: Corporal
Honours/Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Memorials: Lilydale Baptist Church Honour Board, Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll.
Family Story:

Albert was born july13, 1877 in Collingwood to parents John Anderson Atkinson and Mary Ann Morris.
He worked as a railway employee and came to Lilydale between 1906 and 1910. On July 15, 1896 he married Amy Eva Smith and they had ten children. Their eldest son Claude Albert Charles 1897-1916 (also served WW1 and was Killed In Action.)
There other children were: William Reginald (b) 1898, Ruby Alice (b)1899, Eva Myrtle (b) 1901, John Anderson (b) 1906, Lillian Margaret (b) 1910, Stanley Maurice (b) 1911, Eric Aubrey (b) 1913, Ronald Anzac (b) 1916, Beryl Edith (b) 1921.

After the war, Albert became a painter. He died December 1, 1921 at Lilydale and was buried at Lilydale Lawn Cemetery W2  Row 2.

Atkinson, Claude Albert Charles 591
Service No: 591
Occupation: Labourer
Address: Warburton Highway, Lilydale.
Date of Enlistment: March 6, 1915
Age at Enlistment: 18 years
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5ft 5 3/4in tall, 9stn 12lb, blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion.
Next of Kin: Mother Amy Atkinson.
Rank on Enlistment: Private
Unit Name: 24Btn
Embarkation Details: May 8, 1915 from Melbourne on HMAT Euripides.

Places and dates of service:
1915 August 30: to Gallipoli Peninsula.
1916 January 10: to Alexandria Egypt.
1916 March 26: to Marseille France.
1916 March to August: in the field- France.
1916 August 5: wounded France.
1916 August 6: died of wounds.

Service Injuries:

1916 August 5: gun shot wound to left thigh – in the field France Admitted to No.11 General Hospital Camiere France.
1916 August 6: died of wounds received, buried in Etaples Military Cemetery France Plot 9 Row C Grave 12A.

Returned to Australia:  N/A
Discharge Date: N/A
Rank at Discharge: Private at time of death.
Honours/Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Memorial Scroll and Plaque.
Memorials: Lilydale War Memorial; Wandin War Memorial; Lilydale Baptist Church Honour Board; Lilydale IOOF Honour Board; Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll; Lilydale State School Honour Roll.
Family Story:

Claude was born in 1897 in Coburg to parents Albert Robert Atkinson and Amy Eva Atkinson. His father Albert Robert Atkinson No.17893, and brother William Reginald Atkinson No. 30010, also served in World War I. The Atkinson family lived in Warburton Rd. Lilydale and in Gruyere for many years.

Atkinson, M. Capt

Atkinson, William Reginald 30010
Service No: 30010
Occupation: Clerk
Address: Wandin Rd. Lilydale
Date of Enlistment: May 10, 1916
Age at Enlistment: 18 years
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5ft 5 ¾ in tall, 121lbs, blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion
Next of Kin: Father, Albert Atkinson
Rank on Enlistment: Gunner
Unit Name: 120th Howitzer Btn.
Embarkation Details: October 2, 1916 Melbourne on HMAT Aeneas A60
Places and dates of service:

1916 November 19: to Plymouth England.
1917 March 31: to France – transfer to 102nd Btn.
1917 August 10: wounded in Belgium in the field.
1917 August 19: to England, Royal Victoria Hospital Netley.
1917 November 22: Australian Army Hospital Dartford England.
1917 November 27: discharged hospital, transfer to Weymouth England.
1917 December 20: RTA

Service injuries: 
1917 August 16: Gun shot wound to both thighs and jaw in the field Belgium.

Returned to Australia: February 13, 1918 Melbourne on HS Runic A54 Medically unfit, disability compound fracture of lower jaw.
Discharge Date: August 21, 1918
Rank at Discharge: Gunner
Honours/Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Memorials: Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll, Baptist Church of Picnic Hill (Wandin) Honour Board.
Family Story:

William was born 1898 Ascot Vale to parents Albert Robert and Amy Atkinson. He attended Lilydale Primary School, and was a member of the Picnic Hill Baptist Church (Wandin). While at sea October 4, 1916- 26 hours out from Melbourne he put a message in a bottle and threw it overboard. (the message was: “bit sea sick at first, would the finder please send home to my mother.” The message was found and sent on from South Australia. (Lilydale ExpressMarch 30, 1917).

It is not known if William married or had family, he died 10 January 10, 1987 and was cremated at Fawkner Cemetery on January 13, 1987,

Austin, Francis Patrick 10641
Service No: 10641
Occupation: Factory hand.
Address: Lilydale/Albert Park
Date of Enlistment: July 19, 1915
Age at Enlistment: 19 years 3 months
Marital Status: Single
Physical Description: 5ft 7in tall, 9stn 5lbs, grey eyes, dark brown hair, fresh
Next of Kin: Father John Austin
Rank on Enlistment: Private
Unit Name: 2/4th Bde
Embarkation Details: January 5, 1916 Melbourne on HMAT Australia.

Places and dates of service: 1915 September- October : to Signal School in Australia
1915 November 20: promoted to Gunner
1916 February 14: to Alexandria Egypt
1916 March 19: to Marseilles France
1917 February 11: France in the field
1917 April 18: promoted to Driver in the field France
1917 May 22: promoted to Sapper in the field France
1918 March 2: to Belgium
1918 March 6: promoted to Lance Corporal Belgium
1918 June 25: to France
1919 April 5: to England for Return to Australia.

Service injuries: NIL

Returned to Australia: July 2, 1919 to Melbourne on HT Nestor
Discharge Date: August 24, 1919.
Rank at Discharge: Lance Corporal
Honours/Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Memorials: Shire of Lillydale Honour Roll
Family Story:

Frank was born 1896 in Condobolin NSW to Father John Austin (mother not known).
He married Catherine Elizabeth Bryant and was an Engine Driver. Catherine died and was interred at Lilydale Cemetery on January 31, 1970 (Burial Reg. 6953). Frank died and was interred in Lilydale Cemetery on February 18, 1975 aged 78 years. (Burial Register No 7919).

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