Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lyell Dennis Bantick. Born in Zehan, on the West Coast of Tasmania, 3rd March 1898. The youngest of four children, he was named after the Mt. Lyell Zince mine, which was the main source of employment in the area. In that era, there was no social welfare, and the family were very poor. In fact, when Lyell was born, his mother was severely mal-nourished and he was so tiny and so weak, it was thought he would not survive. Fortunately he did survive, and lived to the good age of eighty, always providing well for his family. At age 11, he left Primary school, to work as a telegram delivery boy at the local Post Office, to contribute to the family finances, later training as a telegraphist. (*a telegraphist was the person who received and sent messages, world-wide, by using morse-code and being able to de-code it. In Lyell's youth, there were few phones and no email, or mobiles etc. Messages were sent by morse code, and transposed onto paper and then delivered to the address given.) During his youth he found an old leaky canoe-type boat, which he called "The Pimpernel" and he spent many happy hours paddling about the rivers of Strahan, the town to which the family had moved. He loved music. He sang well, and he also played the trumpet in the local boys' band. In his late teens, he met a young lady, who was to become his wife. She was a gifted pianist who taught music to the local children, an also played incidental music to accompany the silent movies, held in the local church hall on a Saturday night. Lyell felt very privileged to be able to sit beside her and turn the pages of her music book. As their friendship progressed, another favourite pastime was to walk along the ABT railway, each one balancing on a rail, holding hands to balance themselves. Of course, trips in the Pimpernel were always enjoyed, with Olive bailing out the water, and Lyell rowing. In later years, Lyell would laugh at these reminiscences, and wonder what young folk would think today, with so much more sophisticated activities to enjoy. At age 18, he was conscripted into the Army of the first World War, and after a period of training in Brighton Barracks, he embarked on a ship to sail to Egypt. The war left an indelible impression on his life, as it does on all servicemen and women, and he always appreciated his life and country ever afterwards. In his absence, the little town of Strahan, was divided about the war, and a great deal of unpleasantness abounded. It was similar to the situation here in Australia with the Vietnam war. In 1917 Lyell was repatriated to Australia, a very sick man, having contracted a evere stomach condition, which plagued him all the rest of his life. He married Olive, and together they raised two gorgeous, witty, intelligent, beautiful, charming daughters, and continued to work as a telegraphist in the Post Office in Hobart, until his retirement. They lived at 13 Duke Street, Sandy Bay in a war-service home that was built for them. He was the first householder (perhaps in the street) to have electric light installed. Their hoe was also the first in the street to have an old wall phone. Big and black, it weighed a ton, and the original number was 4258. He was an active member of the Telegraphist Union which won concessions for the workers, such as a proper meal break, and not just eating at the machines. Also the union gained proper washroom facilities, which until that time, had not been provided. As secretary of the Union for many years, he was able to advance the needs of the workers, but not in a militant manner, as is prevelant today.

Brief life history of Lyell Dennis Bantick by his daughter Betty Heawood Bantick Wall