The AIF Project

Stanley LYONS

Regimental number124
Place of birthParkside, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationDriver
Address13 Agnes Street, Jolimont, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 11"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinFriend, Mrs Berkely, 13 Agnes Street, Jolimont, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 2.5 years in Senior Cadets, Adelaide, South Australia.
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularVery little particulars available as deceased was a state child. (details from legatee, Miss F.L. Sheppard)
FateKilled in Action 21 May 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death22
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialLone Pine Cemetery (Plot II, Row E, Grave No. 13), Gallipoli, Turkey
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
50
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Native of Parkside, South Australia. Commemorated in St George the Martyr's Anglican Church, Goodwood, Adelaide, South Australia. Inscription reads: 'To the Glory of God. In Honour of Our Lady, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed George the Martyr & of all the Blessed Saints. To the dear Memory of all those who went forth from this Altar, where they offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, to give their lives in the Great War. This Screen is Blessed on Anzac Day 25 April 1922 being the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist.'
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 5 April 1915.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 14 May 1915.

Killed in action, 21 May 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

In his Will Lyons left 'the whole of my property and effects to Miss F. Sheppard Matron of the Industrial School, Black Forest, Adelaide, South Australia'.

Mrs S. Taylor, Matron, Brook's House, St Peter's College, Hackney, South Australia, wrote to Base Records, 30 December 1920: 'When Stanley Lyons died the Gov. did there [sic] best to find his relations but without success. He was a State Illegitimate boy & in his Will he left his little all to the late Matron of the Industrial Sch. Miss F.L. Sheppard now of 13 Angus St. Goodwood Sth Aust. He always looked on her as Mother & I who was the Sub-Matron then as Auntie. He wished anything he had to be left to us. Miss Sheppard cannot remember the name of the Lawyers in Melbourne, now who sent her the money. We as his only friends would love to have any badges or war medals etc as we dearly loved the lad.'

Miss Sheppard wrote to Base Records, 11 February 1921: '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 where I believe she was afterwards married. The boy was brought to the State Childrens' Dept and placed under my care. I mothered him and looked after him for years and when he enlisted from Melbourne he made a will leaving his money to me. At the time of his death Mr James Gray, Secretary of the State Children's Dept, tried to find some trace of his Mother but could not do so. He absconded from the factory where he was working: Messrs Pengelly's 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 know[n], as no boy could stand that. He went away to war to make a name for himself, and serve his country. He left his money to me saying he would ever remember what I had done for him and he wanted to show his gratitude. He was a bright, manly, truthful boy and we were very sorry when we heard of his death.'

War medals, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll given in trust to the State Children's Department, Adelaide.
SourcesNAA: B2455, LYONS Stanley

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