A few of the stories from men who served our country during the First World War.
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Eric Arthur Oswald Williams: Eric Arthur Oswald Williams worked as a motor mechanic prior to enlisting in the First World War.
Described in military records as a native of Dubbo, he embarked with 9th Reinforcements from Sydney aboard the Ayrshire on January 24, 1917.
During the journey to England Private Williams was admitted to the ship's hospital on February 7, 1917.
Two days later he died of cerebro spinal meningitis and was buried at sea.
Private Thomas Lyons: Aboriginal serviceman Private Thomas Lyons of Condobolin enlisted in 54th Battalion at Dubbo on April 4, 1916.
He embarked from Sydney on the Boorara on August 19, 1916 bound for England.
After training at Bovington, England, he embarked for France and arrived for service on February 5, 1917.
Lyons received gun wounds to both legs and one hand on April 1, 1917. After recovering he rejoined his battalion only to be wounded again on April 8, 1918.
Damage to his left knee was so severe, he did not see service again and left England for Australia on November 27, 1918 aboard the troop ship Ronic. Private Lyons was discharged on May 7, 1919.
Frederick William Gephart: Frederick William Gephart was a farmer at Dubbo before enlisting on March 22, 1917. He left Sydney aboard the Honorata on June 14, 1917 and served with the 25th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion.
He returned to Australia on August 18, 1919. He has one wound stripe on his left sleeve. Above it are the crossed rifles of a qualification badge for a marksman.
Lance Corporal Leslie Henry Robinson: Lance Corporal Leslie Henry Robinson of Minore, via Dubbo, enlisted in the AIF on August 18, 1915.
The 21-year-old farmer embarked from Sydney on the Barambah on June 23, 1916 and served on the Western Front with 54th Battalion.
He was killed by a shell which landed amongst a group of men from the 54th Battalion during the battle of Polygon Wood on September 26, 1917.
According to his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, Robinson was buried with five others near the Polygon Wood Butte. The cross marking the grave was later destroyed and his remains were never found.
Robinson's next of kin was his mother, Mrs Emma Robinson.
He is listed on the Dubbo War Memorial, Dubbo Book of Remembrance, Dubbo RSL The Fallen and Rawsonville Roll of Honour.
Timothy Doyle: Timothy Doyle was a labourer in Dubbo prior to enlisting in the First World War at age 18.
He was the son of Michael and Elizabeth Doyle.
Doyle left Sydney on board the SS Hawkes Bay on October 21, 1915 and served with 12th Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement.
After transferring to 5th Division Trench Mortar Brigade with the rank of gunner he died of wounds received in action on September 13, 1916. He was buried in the Eastaires Communal Cemetery in France.
He is listed on the Dubbo War Memorial, Dubbo Book of Remembrance and Dubbo RSL The Fallen.
John Bede Fitzpatrick: John Bede Fitzpatrick was a 33-year-old farmer from Brocklehurst when he enlisted on February 15, 1916.
He left Sydney on the Wiltshire on August 22, 1916 and served with 3rd Battalion 19th Reinforcement.
Fitzpatrick was killed in action on the Western Front on April 9, 1917, aged 34.
He has no known grave and is listed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France, Dubbo War Memorial,; Dubbo Book of Remembrance, Dubbo District Roll of Honour and Dubbo RSL The Fallen.
Corporal James Lihou: Corporal James Lihou of Wongarbon exhibited outstanding bravery while serving on the Western Front in France.
He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of a Lewis gun section during an attack.
"Throughout the advance he fired from the hip with great effect," the Commonwealth Gazette No. 31 reported on March 4, 1919.
"When an enemy post threatened to hold up the line he engaged it so effectually that a bombing section was enabled to approach from a flank without casualties and kill all the occupants.
"Shortly after, when one of his section became a casualty, he carried his gun as well as his own right up to the final objective. He set a splendid example of cheerfulness and cool confidence to his men."
Lihou received the Distinguished Conduct Medal Bar for gallantry and initiative during the attack near Le Verguier on September 18, 1918.
On January 2, 1919 the Commonwealth Gazette No. 1 reported Lihou "and a small party of seven attacked a machine gun post, killing three of the crew and taking the remainder prisoners. Later when the party reached the first objective they met with opposition from several machine guns."
The report said Lihou "charged ahead, bombed and captured one crew thus enabling his party to get into the trench. He was later severely wounded while charging a machine gun single handed."
Lihou died from his wounds at the age of 23. He has no known grave and is listed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France.
Born in Dubbo to Stephen and Eliza Lihou, he was educated at Wongarbon Public School and worked as a labourer prior to enlisting on January 3, 1916.
He embarked from Sydney on the Clan Macgillivray on May 3, 1916 and served with 13th Battalion 18th Reinforcement.
Lihou is listed on the Dubbo War Memorial, Dubbo Book of Remembrance, Dubbo RSL The Fallen and Wongarbon Soldiers' Memorial.
