LYNAS, William James Dalton
| Service Numbers: | 683, W243901, WX11027 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 September 1914, Helena Vale, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Troops HQ (2/AIF Voyage Only) |
| Born: | Auckland, New Zealand, 20 December 1886 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Bussleton Public School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of Illness (coronary), Nullagine, Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia, 12 January 1947, aged 60 years |
| Cemetery: |
Nullagine Cemetery GRM/6 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 683, Helena Vale, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 683, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 683, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 683, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 20 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 20 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Honoured Military Cross, Battle for Pozières | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Honoured Military Cross and bar, Mouquet Farm | |
| 22 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| 12 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Captain, W243901, Recruit Reception Depot, Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 1941: | Involvement Captain, WX11027, Troops HQ (2/AIF Voyage Only), Enlistment/Embarkation WW2 | |
| 1 Feb 1941: | Enlisted WX11027 | |
| 8 Apr 1942: | Discharged Captain, WX11027, Troops HQ (2/AIF Voyage Only) |
Help us honour William James Dalton Lynas's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"William James Dalton (Bill) Lynas (1886-1947), miner and soldier, was born on 20 December 1886 at Auckland, New Zealand, son of Irish-born Thomas Reid Ward Lynas, engineer, and his wife Ellen Kate, née Dalton, born in Paris. After his father was appointed manager of a Western Australian sawmill about 1901 William was educated at Busselton. On leaving school he worked in grocery and briefly managed a store at Brookton. He probably moved to the Marble Bar district following a tin rush in 1906; in 1910 he was employed as a storeman on a mine at Moolyella.In September 1914 Lynas enlisted in the 16th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, and sailed for Egypt in December. He served throughout the Gallipoli campaign as a signaller, and was promoted lance corporal, then second lieutenant in January 1916. He was engaged in Egypt until June, then went with his battalion to France. A lieutenant from April he won the Military Cross in August near Pozières for a dangerous reconnaissance as intelligence officer and the capture of thirty prisoners. Later that month at Mouquet Farm, his work in preparing an attack and leading stretcher parties won him a Bar to the M.C. Promoted captain in April 1917, he spent six months with a training battalion in England but, on hearing that his unit was in action again, illegally rejoined it. In June and July 1918, although wounded, he distinguished himself near Hamel when his management of a very successful raid brought a second Bar to his M.C. and his leadership in a major attack won him the Distinguished Service Order. In December he was mentioned in dispatches..." - READ MORE LINK (adb.anu.edu.au)
"DISTINGUISHED SOLDIER.
The late Major W. Lynas's memory was honoured in Perth last night when delegates to a meeting of the State executive of the Returned Servicemen's League stood in silence as a mark of respect. Major Lynas, who was awarded the D.S.O. and the M.C. and two bars in World War I died recently at Nullagine. Major Lynas served with the 16th Battalion, A.IF., and was a determined frontline leader. He was a foundation member of the Nullagine sub-branch of the RS.L." - from the Perth West Australian 16 Jan 1947 (nla.gov.au)
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