Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: William Michael Joseph Lyons

Ancestor's date of birth: 04/03/1873

Ancestor's date of death: 10/07/1955

Cause of Death: old age

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Worked as a farmer, joined Mackay Mounted Infantry in August 1890, made Sergeant in B Company Queensland Mounted Infantry in March 1898. In addition to his militia service, he worked as a farmer in the Townsville district.

Service Number: 203

Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Mackay

Unit: 1 Queensland Mounted Infantry

Rank attained in Boer War: SGT, Date Effective: 01/07/1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): MAJ, Date Effective: 04/03/1923

Murray Page: 451

Contingent: First Queensland

Ship: Cornwall, Date of Sailing: 01/11/1899

Memorial details: Buried at Townsville

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Height 174 cm, weight 64 kg (1914).

Reasons to go and fight: A serving soldier.

Details of service in war: December 1899 - December 1900 in northwest Cape Colony including victory at Sunnyside (1 January 1900), Free State, and east Transvaal.

Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia 17 January 1901 on the Orient. Married Harriet had sons Kevin, George and Ronald. Served in the Permanent Forces 1 February 1901 'till 11 December 1906. Returned to farming and served in the 27 ALH where he was commissioned 9 December 1912. Lived at, Minchans Siding near Townsville QLD. Commissioned second lieutenant in the 5^th Light Horse (AIF) on 21 November 1914. Promoted lieutenant 1 May 1915, captain 4 November 1916. Served at Gallipoli and in Palestine with 5 LH was transport officer, then OC A Squadron when promoted captain. Invalided to Australia 12 November 1917. Post war he returned to farming and served with 14 LH, then 31 Bn, retired with the honorary rank of major 4 March 1923.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Kay Josephine Lyons, Townsville QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Granddaughter

Name of Descendant: Vivienne Delma O'Brien, Giru QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: grand daughter

Name of Descendant: Kevin Raymond Lyons, Giru QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: grandson

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