Anzac Day marks 100 years of losing one of Australia’s best

“In a lonely grave he’s sleeping. One of Australia’s best”.

This is the epitaph on the grave of Drysdale-born Private Cecil Lyons from the 58^th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F), who rests in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery near Villers-Bretonneux in France.

Cecil was killed in battle during the World War I on April 25, 1918, and this Anzac Day marks the 100th anniversary of his death.

Point Lonsdale’s Kevin Lyons, who is the great nephew of Cecil, said he wanted to share his story to honour a brave and great man.

“Private Cecil Lyons’ service record lists the many battles on the Somme and in the Flanders mud he shared with his mates,” Kevin said.

“Cecil was able to write letters to his family back in Drysdale and the surviving letters show they were written on the battlefield.

“The last letter to his sister May was written on April 21, 1918 and the last page reads, ‘Well May, we cannot grumble about our Easter dinner, as luck was in and although we were in the line we reckoned it was a good war, for a few days. I hope you don’t think it was the Australians who let the Hun through over here, we fight while we have a fighting chance and I think the old chap is the sorriest man (the Kaiser) when he does meet us. There is only one fault with here, and is only a handful of us and of course you can guess what will happen in time.’”

Cecil was born in Drysdale, went to school there and worked on farming properties nearby.

He lived with his parents James and Elizabeth, his sisters May, Esther and Mabel and brothers Ernest, James, Alfred and Victor.

Kevin said Cecil enlisted to join the A.I.F in Geelong on February 16, 1916 aged 18 years, and after training at Broadmeadows he sailed from Melbourne with his unit for the UK to serve his King and his country.

He said Cecil arrived in the UK on August 31, 1916 and after further training he went to France on December 6, 1916 to form the 58^th Battalion of the 15^th Brigade of the A.I.F under Brigade Commander Brigadier Pompey Elliot.

Kevin and his late wife Margaret visited Cecil’s gravestone in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery in June 2015, and said the Australian soldiers had won a lasting place in the hearts of people living at Villers-Bretonneux.

The Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) provides free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families.

They can be reached 24/7 on 1800 011 046 or visit vvcs.gov.au for more information.