Military History

Lydiate enlisted and went to Signal School Melbourne 18.9.1917- 22.10.1917 with 4th Division Signal Coy.18th Reinforcements.
Embarked Melbourne per HMAT ‘Nestor’ A71 for Egypt 21.11.1917.
Roll Rank Sapper.
Roll Unit 4th Div. Signaller Coy.
Lydiate disembarked with his Battalion at Suez 15.12.1917. He marched in to the Australian Camp Suez. Lydiate was transported to Alexandria per HT ‘Nestor’ 30.12.1917. He disembarked and marched in to Camp ‘A’, North Alexandria 31.12.1917- 2.1.1918. He was appointed Acting L/Corporal 3.1.1918 at Sea. Lydiate joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Alexandria and embarked per HMAT ‘Abbassia’ for England 8.1.1918. He disembarked at Southampton 24.1.1918 and marched in to No.3 Camp Details at Parkhouse 24.1.1918. He reverted to rank (Sapper) on entering the training camp. Lydiate proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone 12.10.1918. He became ill on the front and was transferred as an invalid by Hospital Ship (HS) ‘Jan Breydel’ to England. He was admitted to the Grange Military War Hospital, Dartford, with Bronchial Pneumonia and described as dangerously ill 31.10.1918. This situation was reported in local newspapers (West Australian Newspapers 2.12.1918.). On discharge, he was transferred to the HQ London 6.3.1919. From HQ he transferred to Signal Details. Lydiate took leave after the cessation of hostilities with Motor Engineering Course, Morrisons Motor Training Garage, Westminster 6.3.1919- 6.6.1919. He transferred to Longbridge, Deverill went on extended leave to 12.6.1919, before returning to Australia.
Embarked for return to Australia per ‘Takada’ 18.9.1919
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 29.8.1919.
Discharged 3.10.1919.
Final Rank Sapper, 4th Div. Signal Coy. Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes His brothers Albert (SN3171), Frederick (SN 985) and Sydney (SN442) also served in WW1. They stayed with their aunt at Myrtle lodge in James St. Guildford.
Photos George Arthur Lydiate. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of the Lydiate family
              4th Division Signallers. G.A. Lydiate on rt. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of the Lydiate family
              HMAT 'Nestor' A 73. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB 0607
               4th Division Signal Engineers laying Communication Lines prior to the battle on the Hindenburg Line September 1918. Photographer
               unknown, photograph source AWM E03272
 
Information Source
AWM PB 0607.HMAT 'Nestor' A 73. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E03272. 4th Division Signal Engineers laying Communication Lines prior to the battle on the Hindenburg Line September 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of The Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll George Lydiate
4th Division Signallers. G.A. Lydiate on rt. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of the Lydiate family
NAA: B2455, Lydiate George Arthur
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories.slwa

‘Myrtle Lodge’, James St. Guildford. WA.
Coolgardie Railway Station, Coolgardie. WA.

Associated Images