Stanley LYONS

LYONS, Stanley

Service Number: 124
Enlisted: 17 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Lance Corporal
Last Unit: 7th Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 30 April 1896
Home Town: Parkside, Unley, South Australia
Schooling: Euchunga Public School and Anglican Church School
Occupation: Driver
Died: Killed in Action, Gallipoli, 21 May 1915, aged 19 years
Cemetery: Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC
Plot II, Row E, Grave No. 13
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

17 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 124, Melbourne, Victoria
19 Oct 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 124, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 124, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne
25 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 124, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
14 May 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion
21 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 124, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 124 awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-05-21

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"Stanley Lyons was a fine young man, described as 'a brave, bright, honourable boy and one of the first to answer his country's call' by his foster mother, Frances Sheppard, and as 'a bright, manly and truthful boy' by his 'Auntie', Susannah Taylor. In truth, he had no relations, but he was also loved by a third woman, his landlady in East Melbourne, Mrs. Berkeley, whom he nominated as his next of kin.

Frances Sheppard, in a letter to the army authorities, told his story: 'The boy Stanley Lyons was an illegitimate child - his father not known - his mother left him when an infant with some people in Hindley St., Adelaide - deserted him and went to Western Australia ... the boy was brought to the State Children's Department and placed under my care. I mothered him and looked after him for years.' In another letter, she told more of his story: 'He absconded from the factory where he was working: Messrs. Pengellys of Edwardstown, because the foreman there told him he was only a bastard. He left a letter to me telling me he had gone to Melbourne to get work where he was not known, as no boy could stand that; he went away to make a name for himself amd serve his country.' Susannah Taylor concurred: 'he was a State illegitimate boy ... he always looked on her (Frances Sheppard) as mother and I, who was Sub-Matron, as Auntie. We dearly loved the lad.'

In Melbourne, he found a job as a driver, and a home at 13 Agnes St., Jolimont, with Mrs. Berkeley. He enlisted at Carlton on  15 August, 1914. He was a tall boy, 5' 11", with dark brown hair, aged just over 18 when he enlisted, Church of England by religious persuasion. He lied on his enlistment application, claiming to be 21. He had served 2 1/2 years with the Senior Cadets, B Company, Adelaide, so already had some military experience. After enlisting, he trained at Broadmeadows and was taken on strength with the 7th Battalion, AIF, also B. Company, 30 officers and 940 men..." - READ MORE LINK (emhs.org.au)

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"THE LATE PRIVATE S. LYONS.

Private Stanley Lyons, who fell in action on June 15, was 19 years of age, and was amongst the first ten who enlisted in the 10th Battalion in Melbourne. He was educated at the Echunga Public School and the Anglican Church School. Being of a cheerful disposition he made many friends. He was a ward of the State, and is mourned as a son by his foster-parents." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 02 Oct 1915 (nla.gov.au)

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