LYONS, William Michael Joseph
| Other Name: | Lyons, William Michael - Australian War Memorial - Boer War Nominal Roll |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 203 |
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1) |
| Born: | Banana, Queensland, Australia, 8 March 1873 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Giru, Queensland, Australia, 10 July 1955, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville (Belgian Gardens) Cemetery, Qld Plot - Section A4, Row 18, Grave 269 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Corporal, 203, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 203, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899. | |
| 1 Jul 1900: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451, notes promoted to Sergeant 1 Jul 1900. | |
| 23 Jan 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 203, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 449 notes 1st QMI embarked 13 Dec 1900 returning to Australia aboard Orient arriving Brisbane 17 Jan 1901, disbanded 23 Jan 1901. |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Dec 1914: | Involvement 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 1914: | Embarked 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1), HMAT Persic, Sydney | |
| 1 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1) | |
| 4 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1) | |
| 20 Jan 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 5th Light Horse Regiment (WW1), Embarbed at Suez on 15 Nov 1917 aboard HT "Wiltshire" to return to Australia, appointment terminated in Australia 20 Jan 1918. |
Help us honour William Michael Joseph Lyons's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- various records also record him as William Michael Lyons.
He served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Corporal rising to Sergeant S.N. 203 in the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a 2nd Lieutenant rising to Captain in the 5th Light Horse Regiment AIF, WW1.
It appears he was serving as a volunteer with one of the Queensland Defence Force (QDF) regiments prior to enlisting for the Boer War. When he first enlisted as William Michael Lyons in 1899 with the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was noted as Corporal W. M. Lyons, single, from Mackay.
In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 67, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Mrs. M. Lyons (his mother), Byron St, Mackay. The paybooks also note he was seconded to the South African Police between 19 Jun 1900 and 5 Nov 1900.
He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Brisbane aboard the Orient where he was discharged on 23 Jan 1901. After his discharge he joined the staff of the QDF, later part of the Commonwealth Military Forces. The Evening Telegraph, 18 May 1910, reported on his retirement from the military, at the rank of Sergeant-Major having served at Gatton, Roma, Toowoomba and Toogoolawah, to take up sugar cane farming between Townsville and Ayr.
He enlisted again in 1914 for WW1 as William Michael Joseph Lyons. On his Attestation Paper, dated 27 Sep 1914, he noted that; he was born at Banana, Qld, and was 40 years 6 months old; he was married and a farmer; his N.O.K. was his wife Harriet Lyons, Minehans Siding, Ayr Line via Townsville; and that he had previously served with the 1st QMI in South Africa and for 9 years 5 months with the instructional staff of the Qld Military.
He also applied for a commission and on the application, dated 21 Nov 1914, he recorded his D.O.B. as 4 Mar 1873, with the commission approved as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 5th Light Horse Regiment. After his return to Australia and discharge, he continued with his farming pursuits in North Queensland.
William Michael Joseph Lyons was born on 4 Mar 1873 at Banana, Qld, a son to John Lyons and Mary Lyons (nee Pearse). He married Harriet Deane on 15 Oct 1902 at St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane, returning to reside in North Queensland where they had 4 children.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 67; National Archives Australia- WW1 Service Record; National Archives Astralia- Military Officers Record).
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