S388
LEE , Vivian Arnold
| Service Number: | 3420 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 September 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Gumeracha, Sout h Australia, 27 April 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Kenton Valley Primary School and Birdwood High School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Gumeracha, South Australia , 23 August 1996, aged 99 years |
| Cemetery: |
North Gumeracha Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Gumeracha Anzac Honor Roll, Gumeracha Town Hall WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3420, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Sep 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3420, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Kyarra, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 3420, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA |
|---|
War Experiences
When World War 1 broke Viv Lee enlisted for active service but was rejected due to the vision in his right eye being below 6/60. He tried again with the same result but at the third try, when he was eighteen years and eight months old he was accepted, taking the Oath on 10 October 1916.
He went into camp at Seymour, Victoria on 23 October 1916 and was allotted to the 29th Reinforcement Kyarra Group (a small group of only 19) in the 9th Light Horse Brigade on 11 June 1917. On 7 September 1917, Viv sailed from Melbourne on HMAT A55 Kyarra in convoy 33. There were 280 troops on board and 43 civilian passengers. He arrived in Egypt and marched into reinforcements camp at Moascar, Egypt on 19 October 1917.
He joined the 9th Light Horse regiment in time to participate in the pursuit of the Turks that led to the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917. In early May 1918 he was part of the Es Salt raid and then took part in the capture of Jenin and Sasa before moving on to Damascus.
Viv served in Egypt, Palestine and Syria until in April 1919 he was repatriated aboard SS Oxfordshire. His nephew Ron Lee recalls 'Viv clearly remembered the thrill of seeing the sun rise over Mount Lofty as the ship sailed up Spencer Gulf in South Australia. The troops marched to Keswick Barracks through streets lined with people cheering them home.
He didn't talk about the war much, occasionally describing swimming in the Dead Sea and showing his grandchildren a collection of coins collected in the Middle East at the time. He called the dairy farm he established when he returned 'El Rimal'.
Submitted 20 May 2015 by Judith Carr
Biography
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Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Vivien Arnold Lee, a farmer from Gumeracha, South Australia, was born on April 27, 1897. He lived in a town located in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Vivien was in a relationship with his spouse, Amy Lee. When war broke out, Lee enlisted in the army, leaving behind Gumeracha and his loved ones. Vivien was determined, reflecting the resilience of a generation that faced the trials of war. His selfless dedication leaves a lasting legacy in history.
Mr. Vivien Arnold Lee enlisted on September 21, 1916, from Adelaide, South Australia, joining the renowned 9th Light Horse Regiment in World War I. He served as a Private with the service number 3420. He embarked on the HMAT Kyarra in Melbourne, a transport ship for Australian troops. Unfortunately, he fell ill and was admitted to the hospital on April 9, 1918, in Moascar. His journey exemplifies his commitment and enduranceduring his time with the 9th Light Horse Regiment.
Vivien Arnold Lee returned to Australia on the 10 July 1919 , and died of natural causes, 23 August 1996, aged 99 years.
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