War diaries of Will Lycett of Flemington

 

Today the Moonee Valley Leader began serialising the war diaries of a Flemington boiler-maker, Will Lycett, who embarked with the 4th Field Ambulance Brigade on 22 December 1914.  Will kept his diaries for the four years of the war, returning to Australia in December 1918.  Through the generosity of the Lycett family, journalist Tamara Heath introduces Will, his two brothers and his father, of Railway Place, Flemington all of whom enlisted. 

From Moonee Valley Leader, 27 May 2015. Pages 8 - 9

I cant seem to directly link to the article, but you can search for it here by the date, 27 May 2015.








UPDATE from Tim L.

"Page 8-9 in the Moonee Valley Leader 27/5/15.
You'll find it under 'Western Suburbs' in the 'Select Title' tab here: http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx"

FURTHER UPDATE FROM LENORE

The Lycett family were next-door-neighbours of the Stelling family in Railway Place until immediately before the war when the Stellings moved to Essendon.  

McPhee brothers in 4 Field Ambulance

In this group of NCOs and Officers of the 4 Field Ambulance are brothers, Sergeants James Edmond and Victor Alexander Douglas McPhee of 1 Violet Street, Essendon.  Both accountants, they enlisted within weeks of each other in September and October 1914, and embarked on the Berrima on 22 Dec 1914 with the regimental numbers of 2006 and 2007.  Both served at Gallipoli.  Jim won the Military Medal for gallantry in 1917.  Both were promoted to Sergeant.  Only one brother returned.  This photo was taken at Ballieul in March 1918, and Victor was killed on 10 April 1918.

Jim is identified in the middle row, third from the left, and Victor in the same row at far right.  Jim's war diaries are in the Australian War Memorial collection.