Frederick LYONS

LYONS, Frederick

Service Number: 5820
Enlisted: 29 February 1916, Birth name was Michael Lyons - Reduced age by 16 years and enlisted under the false name of Frederick Lyons at Cootamundra, NSW, where his identity was not checked - His correct identity was discovered after his death and his Army Record amended to list his next of kin as mother, Mrs Bridget Lyons of Yarra Street, Geelong
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 18th Infantry Battalion
Born: Buninyong, Victoria, Australia, 1870
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 18 April 1917
Cemetery: Noreuil Australian Cemetery
Grave D6
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

29 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5820, Birth name was Michael Lyons - Reduced age by 16 years and enlisted under the false name of Frederick Lyons at Cootamundra, NSW, where his identity was not checked - His correct identity was discovered after his death and his Army Record amended to list his next of kin as mother, Mrs Bridget Lyons of Yarra Street, Geelong
7 Oct 1916: Involvement Private, 5820, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
7 Oct 1916: Embarked Private, 5820, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney

Frederick Lyons - Real Name William Lyons

Michael Lyons enlisted in the AIF in WW1 on 28 Feb 1916 as Frederick Lyons,
by reducing his age from 46 years to 30 years and 5 months and claiming he
was born at Mount Buninyong, Victoria, as the son of Michael Lyons.



Michael Lyons travelled from Navigators in Victoria to Cootamundra in New South Wales, where he could enlist in the AIF under the name of Frederick Lyons without being subject to ready verification of his real age and identity, which would have prevented his enlistment/active service.


Michael Lyons enlisted in the AIF at Cootamundra, NSW, on 28 February 1916, as
Frederick Lyons, listing his Next of Kin as his father, Michael Lyons, who was actually himself. At a later stage, his Next of Kin was changed to a fictional uncle, being John Trait of Mount Buninyong, Victoria.


Michael, as Private Frederick Lyons, Service Number: 58290, was killed in action on 18 April 1917 and was buried 5 & 1/4 miles N.N.E. of Bapaume Noreuil, France on 21 April 1917.


After Michael aka Frederick’s death on active service the Army attempted to deliver his personal effects to his fictional uncle, John Trait at Mount Buninyong, Victoria. After delivery to the fictional uncle was unsuccessful, the Army contacted the Parish Priest at St Alipius Church, Ballarat, Victoria, for assistance locating Next of Kin for Private Frederick Lyons of Mount Buninyong. Investigations eventually revealed that Fredrick Lyons was actually Michael Lyons, the son of James Lyons, deceased of Navigators, near Ballarat in Victoria and Bridget Lyons, residing in Yarra Street, Geelong, Victoria.


Following correspondence with Bridget Lyons and her daughter Ann (Annie) Lyons, Michael’s sister, the Army delivered Michael aka Frederick’s effects and medals etc to his mother, Bridget Lyons, in Geelong

Read more...
Showing 1 of 1 story

Biography contributed by John Richardson

 Birth name Michael