Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ A8 for England 9.11.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 51st Battalion, 7th Reinforcements, Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Lanyon disembarked at Devonport 10.1.1917. He marched in to 17th Training Battalion at Codford 10.1.1917. During his period of intensive training at Codford, he was briefly hospitalised 11.2.1917.
Lanyon proceeded overseas to France 10.4.1917. In June1917, the 51st Battalion moved to the Ypres Sector of Belgium, they fought at Messines between the 7th and 12th of June. Lanyon was wounded in action at Messines 9.6.1917, this was amended to read ‘not wounded’, but ‘Neurasthenia Special Diagnosis’. He was admitted to the 4th Stationary Hospital in Belgium 9.6.1917 and convalesced. He rejoined his unit from hospital 25.8.1917. Lanyon fought with his Battalion at Polygon Woods in September 1917. He was wounded in action (2nd time) and suffered shell shock on the 26.9.1917 He was listed at various Casualty Clearing Stations as NYDN (not yet diagnosed nervous). Lanyon was invalided to England and embarked on Hospital Ship (HS) ‘Ville de Liege’. He was admitted to 4th London General Hospital, at Denmark Hill 9.12.1917 .He was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Lanyon was listed for early return to Australia for a ‘change’ and suffering from ‘shellshock’.
Embarked per HT ‘Dunluce Castle’ for Australia 24.1.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 4.3.1918.
Discharged 18.4.1918.
Final Rank Private, 51st Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
Medical Condition Invalided, with shellshock, neurasthenia,
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Lanyon moved to Kalgoorlie after his return to Australia. He was admitted to the Kalgoorlie Drill Hall Hospital, for unspecified health problems and died on 2.9.1919 (Western Mail 18.9.1919 p26.) Lanyan died the day after his father-in-law. He left his wife and  five children, Elsie, Stella, Olivia, Nellie and Willie. The family continued to reside in Midland Junction
Photos HMAT 'Argyllshire.' Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P10581.002
             Messines Ridge 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01290
             Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00783
             J. C. Lanyon. Image source Kalgoorlie Miner. Family Notices  3.9.1010 p2

Information Source
AWM P10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire.' Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of th Australian War Memorial
AWM E01290. Messines Ridge 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memoria
AWM E00783. Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls James Caddy Lanyon
Kalgoorlie Miner
NAA: B2455, Lanyon J C
Western Mail



c /- Post Office, Guildford. WA. (mail address) 
Midland Junction   (wife)

Associated Images