LIGHTBODY, Neil Victor Hugh
| Service Numbers: | 841, R844, V390268 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 8th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Cape Bridgewater, Victoria, Australia, 17 December 1888 |
| Home Town: | Portland, Glenelg, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Portland, Victoria, Australia, 6 August 1981, aged 92 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cape Bridgewater Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion, embarked Melbourne for Gallipoli on board HMAT A3 Orvieto | |
| 30 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, : WIA Dardanelles; hit by Shrapnel bullet in upper arm; treated at Alexandria and evacuated to Harefield Hospital in Middlesex; ‘just landed on beach when shot in arm’(NAA) | |
| 7 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 841, 5th Infantry Battalion, embarked Portland, England for Melbourne on board HT Runic | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, R844, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, R844, 5th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Mar 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 841, Australian Employment Company, embarked Portland, England for Melbourne on board HMT Euripides | |
| 3 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 841, Australian Employment Company |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, V390268, 8th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Sep 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, V390268, 8th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
Honouring A Soldier
Christmas Eve was principally notable for the welcome home to another of our brave boys in khaki, Private Victor Lightbody, who, wounded in the famous landing of the Australians at Suvlar Bay, and since then in the hospital, returned home that evening. Being a Bridgewater boy, the residents of that place claimed the honor of being the first to greet him, meeting the train at Heywood, and conveying him and his parents from there by motor car to Portland, where an immense and enthusiastic crowd had gathered at the intersection of Julia and Percy streets to welcome him home. Here he was greeted with cheers and the strains of "Home Sweet Home." Having mounted the platform in company with councillors and members of the recruiting committee, the Mayor, Cr. Wyatt, spoke enthusiastic words of welcome. Cr. Williamson, on behalf of Private Lightbody, thanked the Mayor and everyone for the welcome accorded him. Cheers and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne," and the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.
Sourced from the "Portland Guardian" Wednesday 5th January 1916. (trove.nla.gov.au).
Submitted 1 July 2024 by Andreena Hockley
Invalided Home
Private Victor Lightbody, invalided home from active service, is expected to arrive
here to-night. He is to be met at Heywood by his relatives and Bridgewater friends, from there he will be conveyed by car to Portland, where he will be officially welcomed, by the Mayor. It is expected that there will be a large gathering to welcome Private Lightbody home.
Sourced from the "Portland Guardian" Friday 24th December 1915. (trove.nla.gov.au)
Submitted 1 July 2024 by Andreena Hockley
Biography contributed by Chris Buckley
Private Neil Victor Hugh Lightbody (Service Nos:841/R844) enlisted in the AIF on 21 August 1914 and embarked for Gallipoli with 5th Infantry Battalion on 21 October 1914 on board HMAT A3 Orvieto. On 30 April 1915 Private Lightbody was WiA at Dardanelles, stating (NAA) he had 'just landed on beach when shot in arm'. Private Lightbody was treated in Alexandria before being evacuated to Harefield Hospital in Middlesex and from there embarking for Melbourne on 7 November 1915 on board HT Runic. Private Lightbody then embarked from Melbourne for Plymouth on 3 July 1916 on board HMAT A33 Ayrshire. Embarking from Portland, England for Melbourne on board HT Euripides on 3 March 1919, Private Lightbody was attached to Australian Employment Coy at Discharge on 3 October 1919.
Neil was born at Cape Bridgewater via Portland in 1888, third of six children of William John Lightbody (b1853 in Warrnambool, Victoria) and Ann (Annie) Cameron Campbell (b1863 at Staffordshire Reef, Victoria). William (a Farmer) and Annie married in 1884 at Mt Richmond, Victoria and settled at Cape Bridgewater via Portland where they raised their family and William was a Farmer.
Neil worked as a Farm Labourer and Farmer in Bridgewater via Portland and in 1923 in Bendigo, Victoria married Verna Dorothea Fulton (b1893 in Oxley nr Wangaratta, Victoria) - Verna was living in Bendigo. Neil and Verna settled at Tarragul via Portland where they raised their family and Neil was a Farmer. Neil served in the ACMF (Private; Service No:V390268) with 8th Battalion VDC. Neil died in 1981 and Verna in 1993.
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