LYONS, Raymond Alfred
| Service Number: | 4569 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 1 October 1897 |
| Home Town: | Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 4 July 1968, aged 70 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, NSW |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4569, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4569, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4569, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Sydney | |
| 7 Nov 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 4569, 19th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Raymond Alfred Lyons was the youngest son of Fredrick and Maria Elizabeth Lyons of Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales. He and his two brothers all enlisted in the 19th Battalion during late 1915. Ray was only 18 years of age, but claimed he was almost 22 on his enlistment papers.
The oldest brother Frederick Norman died from pneumonia at 12th Casualty Clearing Station, near Armentieres, France, on 11 July 1916. The second brother Reginald Laurence was wounded in action during the operations at Broodseinde, Belgium on 4 October 1917 and died of his wounds on the same day. Ray was also wounded on 4 October 1917 but recovered from his wounds. Distraught by the loss of two of her sons and anxious about her youngest son his mother wrote directly to Lieutenant General Birdwood in March 1918.
"General Birdwood,
Dear Sir,
I write to ask you could you send me my son home. I have lost two sons at this terrible war and I think that to lose the third would be the end of me. I am only living in hopes that my boy will soon come back to me. No doubt you will think that I have taken leave of my senses writing to you but you will understand a broken-hearted mother’s appeal. My son is only 20 years old but it is not because he is so young that I am writing it is because he is saddened by the death of his brother that was killed on October 4th, 1917 that I am asking for his return. My eldest son, No. 3964 Private F.N. Lyons, 55th Battalion, died at Armentieres on 11 July 1916 and No. 4306 Private R.L. Lyons, 5th A.M.G. Coy. died of wounds 4th October, 1917. The boy I want home is No. 4569 Private Raymond Alfred Lyons, 19th Battalion; he has been on Active Service two years and seen some fighting. Hoping you will do all you can for me.
I am, Sir, Your humble servant,
(Sgd) M.E. Lyons. (Maria Elizabeth Lyons)
PS. I wish you and all the Allies success and safe return to home."
General Birdwood reacted by writing direct to Lieutenant Colonel H.M. Beiers, Commanding Officer, 19th Battalion asking him to verify the death of the two brothers and if possible, remove Private Lyons from the front line. After confirmation of the loss of his two brothers General Birdwood immediately approved Private Raymond Alfred Lyons return to Australia and early discharge thus granting his mother’s request for his safe return.
Raymond Alfred Lyons was sent from France to England in June 1918 for early return to Australia for ‘family reasons.’ He was discharged from the AIF four days before the Armistice.
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