Sister Susie’s - Another Connection

 By Kate Davis - Casey Cardinia Libraries

Last month’s article told the story of Jack Dawson, a Beaconsfield local who fought during World War Two and was taken and died as a prisoner of war in Burma. Jack’s family had a special connection to a local Beaconsfield fundraising club, Sister Susies, which raised funds throughout the war for the benefit of those serving overseas. Jack’s two sisters, Beryl and Rena, were heavily involved in the club - something mentioned by Darla Adamson during the Adamson’s interview, in which Jack’s own story was uncovered (read more about this here). This article discusses the development and success of the club, using newspaper excerpts found on Trove.

In the Adamson’s interview, Mrs. Darla Adamson mentioned the eagerness with which all Beaconsfield residents contributed to fundraising and relief efforts for local soldiers. Darla spoke about the Sister Susies club, in which women from around the district would gather and organise functions and balls. According to Darla, these women would send parcels with all sorts of goods, including socks, balaclavas, and even Christmas cakes during the festive season! It is perhaps unsurprising then that Beryl and Rena Dawson were heavily involved in the club, on account of their experience as sisters of a serviceman. 

Sister Susies clubs have been a longstanding method of organising funds and goods for soldiers overseas. The first instance of the Beaconsfield Club appears in the local newspaper, ‘The Dandenong Journal’ in 1942. Reading the article below, it becomes apparent that the Beaconsfield Sister Susies club was founded in 1941.

                                                                    Published in September 1942.

At that point, while the club was relatively small in membership, their fundraising efforts were nevertheless quite successful, raising £10. This is equivalent to approximately $17.50 AUD at that time, and worth around $675 AUD today. In a nation recovering from the Great Depression and experiencing another world war, this amount is quite impressive.

The next article regarding the club was published in April 1944, which has insight into the origins of the Sister Susies club. They were not a random collection of women but were formed predominantly from the Younger Set – a sub-group of the Country Women’s Association in Beaconsfield. The Younger Set themselves in Beaconsfield had been formed in 1931, and were, as the name suggests, younger CWA members (1). Clearly too, the club’s success was only growing; raising £18 at this function, equivalent to around $1,200 today.

                                                                  Published April 1944.

This prosperity came in the same year as the club’s fourth birthday - a joyous affair, as noted in the article below. Undoubtedly, a sizeable amount of funds for servicemen would have been raised at this birthday ball too.

                                                            Published August 1944.

Over the next year, the club’s achievements seemed to increase tenfold. As the war effort increased, nudging ever closer to the end of the war, it seems that morale was building on the home front. This appears to have contributed to increases in donations at Sister Susie functions. The Sister Susies fifth birthday ball in August of 1945 raised £200 - equivalent to $13,500 today – quite a feat! The article also mentions Beryl Dawson’s role in the club, as the President. At this point, Jack’s death had been announced in the local newspaper, and so the Dawson family knew that he was no longer alive. It seems that the Dawson sisters, particularly Beryl, channeled their efforts into continuing to raise funds for all the remaining soldiers still fighting. For a family that had lost a member in such a tragic way, it is remarkable that the Dawson sisters continued to contribute heavily to the success of the club.

                                                            Published August 1945.

Then, in June of 1946 with the war well and truly finished, the Beaconsfield Sister Susies club dissolved. There was no longer such a pressing need for funds to support soldiers and so Sister Susies members were released from the undoubtedly huge amounts of time they had surely been contributing to the balls and functions. As the article below details, the club's Victory Night was a huge success and celebration, in which the contribution of the community was acknowledged.  

                                                                       Published June 1946.

The time had come for Beaconsfield to focus their efforts on rebuilding the community. This celebration would have been met with welcome feelings of relief for many of the attendees, as the end of the war and the beginning of a new chapter was marked. Beaconsfield, as with every town across the entirety of Australia, had lost fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. The success of clubs like the Sister Susies of Beaconsfield displays the significant contributions and impact of the efforts made by those on the home front, during such difficult times. The dedication of members, alongside the generosity of the wider community demonstrates a small part of the Australian experience of war, and the strong spirit of those living through and fighting in the wars.

 

References

1-      The Dandenong Journal, ‘Younger set formed’, The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 26 March 1931, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201083127

 

Excerpts from articles, in order of appearance.

The Dandenong Journal, ‘Beaconsfield Sister Susies doing fine work’, The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 9 September 1942, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215710340

The Dandenong Journal, ‘£18 from Beaconsfield “Sister Susies” dance’, The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 19 April 1944, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214165310

The Dandenong Journal, ‘Beaconsfield “Sister Susies” celebrate 4^th birthday’, The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 30 August 1944, p. 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214166958

The Dandenong Journal, ‘Beaconsfield Sister Susies’ Record-breaking birthday ball’, The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 29 August 1945, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page21584807

The Dandenong Journal, ‘Beaconsfield “Sister Susies” happy wind-up', The Dandenong Journal (Vic.: 1927-1954), 26 June 1946, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214794234

 

 

The Lyons of Cranbourne

During the war years, Cranbourne like many other small towns across Australia, rallied behind the soldiers fighting overseas. Communities offered their support at the time in many different ways. In Cranbourne, the Patriotic Association held weekly dances in the Shire Hall to raise money for supplies and parcels to send overseas and funded many welcome-home events and monuments after the war. A branch of the Red Cross was established in Cranbourne towards the beginning of World War One and remained extremely active throughout the First and Second World Wars (1). As a community, Cranbourne lost many fathers, sons, and brothers to the First World War, but maintained a strong fundraising effort throughout.

As with all wars, the First World War devastated many families. One family I came across while researching soldiers from Cranbourne was the Lyons family. Their experience can give an insight into the experience of many families on the home front during war time.

Patrick Lyons married Louisa Henderson (records for Louisa appear under Louise also) in 1892 (2) and the pair went on to have 11 children over the next 24 years; Patrick was approximately 29 when they married; Louise/Louisa was only 17.  Their family consisted of John (1892), Patrick Edward (1894), Leslie William (1895), Charles (1896), Harold (1900), Percy (1902), Mary Eileen Isabel (1904), Gordon (1906), Stanley Noel (1909) Thomas Bertram (1911) and Eric Michael (1916) (birth records in footnotes).

John and Leslie enlisted for World War I in 1915. Patrick and Charles followed shortly and enlisted in 1916. Thus, by the end of 1916, just under half of the Lyons family had gone off to war.

 

Leslie’s enlistment record (3).

 

Patrick’s enlistment record (4).

 

John’s enlistment record (5).

Charles’ enlistment record – he was the youngest out of the boys to enlist, only 18 and 2 months at the time (6).

It can certainly be assumed that having four children leave for war would be devastating for a family, no matter the size. The Lyons family though, had suffered another great loss while their children were enlisting.

In late 1915, Patrick Lyons, Louisa’s husband and the children’s father died suddenly. He had been involved in an accident on Cranbourne Road, where he had fallen out of the back of a wagon. Patrick was travelling with his son (who we can assume was Harold, because of the age of the child mentioned in the article) and another man. He had insisted the pair go home without him and he would follow, but the following morning he was found dead. It was determined he had died from suffocation during an alcoholic coma, at the age of 52. Patrick was buried at the Cranbourne cemetery, where his gravestone is shared with his son Percy who died in 1927 (7).

 

 

 

 

The article recalls that Harold tried to assist his father once he had fallen (8).

This event left Louisa Lyons a widow at the age of 40. She was now the single mother to 11 children, 4 of whom were overseas, with 7 children at home under the age of 15. Sadly, within the next three years, two of four of the boys fighting overseas would be killed in service. In September of 1917, Patrick died of wounds sustained (9), and in October of 1918, Leslie was killed in action (10).

  Leslie’s death mentioned in an article in the Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advertiser (11).

News of Leslie’s death arrived relatively quickly to Australia, with a notice being printed in a paper published on October 31^st of 1918. We do not know when news of Patrick’s death reached the family, except for the mention in this article of the death of Leslie’s ‘eldest brother’. The name written is Richard, but I believe it to be a misprint (we know Leslie and Patrick are related, and that this is the same Leslie Lyons, because of the death and birth date mentioned). So, it can be assumed that the Lyons family knew of both boys' deaths late 1918. It is entirely probable that the family went months without hearing news of Patrick’s death, as was quite commonplace.

This left the Lyons’ in a somber position by the end of World War I. They had lost three family members; two to the war, one to an accident. Presumably John and Charles both returned home after the war (below is an excerpt of John’s death notice, printed in 1972 – this lists all members of the Lyons family and was very useful in identifying further family members).

John’s death notice, listing the Lyons family (12).

 

 

Digging further into the Lyon’s family history from here, I found that three of the younger boys, Harold, Stanley and Thomas then enlisted in World War II (13). Records also suggests that perhaps the only daughter in the family, Mary, also served in the Second World War. There is a record of a Mary Elizth Isabel Lyons marrying a Harry Evans in 1923 (14). I believe this may have been the same Mary, as in 1923, Mary Lyons would have been 19 years old; a normal age for marriage at the time. If indeed this is the same Mary, she likely served as a nurse. None of these children are listed on the Australian War Memorial’s roll of honour, so it might be assumed that they all survived their service.

Exploring the Lyons family history gives an insight into just how difficult wartime was for most families. The home front continued on as it always had, regardless of the war, and so too did the tragic accidents that had likely been occurring for years. Patrick’s death left Louisa Lyons a widowed, single mother of 11 children, seven (perhaps eight) of whom fought during the World Wars, two of whom lost their lives fighting for Australia. Undoubtedly the experience of the Lyon’s family would be incredibly similar to those of many other families from this period.

 

Useful Databases When Researching Military Family History:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour.

Both Patrick and Leslie are listed on the Australian War memorial Roll of Honour, which commemorates soldiers who lost their lives in service of Australia. The database can be accessed here).

The Roll of Honour can provide family historians with further information about their ancestor's involvement in war, including service and death details. The Australian War Memorial has digitised many circulars (documents which were required to be filled for qualification to the roll of honour, often filled by next of kin), which provide a great deal of extra detail.

Patrick’s circular reveals that he served as a Private in the Australian Infantry Force, 59^th battalion, and died of wounds in Polygon Woods, Belgium, at the age of 23 and 8 months. It lists Louisa Lyons at an address in Longwarry East and includes details of Leslie’s service (15).

Leslie’s circular reveals similar information. He served as a Sergeant in the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion and was killed in action at Montbrehain, Picardie, France, at the age of 23 (16).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour webpages also detail which panel of the Commemorative Area the soldier’s name is listed, and times at which their name will be projected onto the exterior of the Hall of Memory.

Find a Grave.
Another great resource for family historians is the Find a Grave database (access here). The database is very useful in finding both military and civilian gravestones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie’s grave at Calvaire Cemetery in Montbrehain, Picardie, France (17).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick’s grave at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Lijssenthoek, Flanders, Belgium (18).

Author: Kate Davis - Casey Cardinia Libraries

Footnotes

1- City of Casey & Casey Cardinia Libraries, ‘Cranbourne: a town with history’, City of Casey, n.d., p. 7.2, https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files-public/user-files/City%20%26%20Council/About%20Casey/military.pdf

2- The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, ‘Louisa Henderson in Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950', Marriage Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 3182, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61649&h=2075382&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=1778

3- National Archives of Australia, ‘Leslie William Lyons in Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920', B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2015, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=Hnm2&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=60864&gsfn=leslie%20william&gsln=lyons&cp=0&msbpn__ftp=cranbourne,%20victoria,%20australia&msbpn=94493&new=1&rank=1&uidh=ry4&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=0&h=342463&recoff=&ml_rpos=1&queryId=5b93b738121b6202beab6fa0378bae18

4- National Archives of Australia, ‘Patrick Edward Lyons in Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920', B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2015, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=yBT3&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=60864&gsfn=patrick&gsln=lyons&cp=0&msbpn__ftp=cranbourne,%20victoria,%20australia&msbpn=94493&new=1&rank=1&uidh=ry4&redir=false&msT=1&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=0&h=347012&recoff=&ml_rpos=1&queryId=1e6656ed434571b2848144ab7b78380a

5- National Archives of Australia, ‘John Lyons in Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920', B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2015, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60864&h=340926&tid=&pid=&queryId=a9ff9d76ffcb54ba3bf4e019a889cdab&usePUB=true&_phsrc=CGP10&_phstart=successSource

6- National Archives of Australia, ‘Charles Lyons in Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920', B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2015, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60864&h=343367&tid=&pid=&queryId=8040e977f8dc9c7b8172e54fb4a11947&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yrP3&_phstart=successSource

7- Find a Grave, ‘Patrick Lyons (1863-17 June 1915)’, Find a Grave [database], Memorial ID 66810886, 2011, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66810886/patrick-lyons  

8- South Bourke and Mornington Journal, ‘Fatal Accident at Cranbourne’, South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic.: 1877 - 1920; 1926 - 1927) 24 June 1915, p. 3,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66187933

9- Australian War Memorial, ‘Roll of Honour Patrick Edward Lyons’, AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army [webpage], 2022, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1638375

10- Australian War Memorial, ‘Roll of Honour Leslie William Lyons’, AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army [webpage], 2022, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1637576

11- Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate, ‘Cranbourne’, (1918, October 31). Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate (Vic.: 1914 - 1918), 31 October 1918, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88816917

12- The Age, ‘John Lyons in Australia, Newspaper Vital Notices, 1831-2001', Fairfax Media, Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia, 2015, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=9091&h=1800659906&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=60864

13- National Archives of Australia, ‘Harold Lyons in the Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945', B884, Citizen Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australia, 2016, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61172&h=1506510&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=1778

National Archives of Australia, ‘Stanley Noel Lyons in the Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945', B883, Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australia, 2016, Ancestry.com [database], https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61172&h=1743295&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=1778

National Archives of Australia, ‘Thomas Bertram Lyons in the Australia, World War II Second Imperial Forces and Citizen Military Forces Service Records, 1939-1947', B883, Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947, National Archives of Australia, Canberra, Australia, 2020, Ancestry.com [database], https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/4253:61987?_phsrc=KTk1&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=thomas+bertram&gsln=lyons&ml_rpos=1&queryId=a98ffe9dc6a783c6df20b6b84a00e5c3

14- The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, ‘Mary Elizth Isabel Lyons in Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950', Marriage Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com, reference number 2648, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61649&h=274083&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=61172

15- Australian War Memorial, ‘No. 3149. Private. LYONS. Patrick Edward.’, AWM 131 Roll of Honour Circular [document], n.d.,https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068879/document/5578343.PDF

16- Australian War Memorial, ‘No. 665. Sergeant. LYONS. Leslie William.’, AWM 131 Roll of Honour Circular [database], n.d., https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068879/document/5578340.PDF

17- Find a Grave, ‘Sgt Leslie William Lyons’, Find a Grave [website], Memorial ID 56137696, 2010, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56137696/leslie-william-lyons

18-

Find a Grave, ‘Private Patrick Edward Lyons’, Find a Grave [website], Memorial ID 12071361, 2005, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12071361/patrick-edward-lyons

Lyons Family Birth Records:

Edwardian Index, ‘Gordon Lyons in Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922', Edwardian Index. Victoria. 1902-1913, 2010, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 9948,https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1778&h=269854&tid=&pid=&queryId=0662e48dbc85ae98a49d4eae30a14f1c&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yrP15&_phstart=successSource

Edwardian Index, ‘Mary Eileen Isabel Lyons in Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922', Edwardian Index. Victoria. 1902-1913, 2010, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 9605, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1778&h=271505&tid=&pid=&queryId=97f522034da8e898634371b8ade709ca&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yrP6&_phstart=successSource

Edwardian Index, ‘Percy Lyons in Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922', Edwardian Index. Victoria, 1902-191., 2010, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 9746, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1778&h=271941&tid=&pid=&queryId=87448b8914bc36211bde8aabcb8bbb30&usePUB=true&_phsrc=CGP4&_phstart=successSource

Edwardian Index, ‘Stanley Noel Lyons in Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922', Edwardian Index. Victoria. 1902-1913, 2010, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 18394, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1778&h=272319&tid=&pid=&queryId=042a94bc1947c8cd30826c2539a62695&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yrP17&_phstart=successSource

Federation Index, ‘Jno Lyons in Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922', Federation Index. Victoria. 1889-1901, 2010, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 31724, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1778&h=1828242&tid=&pid=&queryId=60f04b7eaee212ba00de9eb7c257b0ec&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yrP2&_phstart=successSource

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, ‘Eric Michael Lyons in Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917', Birth Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 28732,https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61648&h=316568&tid=&pid=&queryId=820991cb644476b4dbefb84fcd7841a0&usePUB=true&_phsrc=yBT2&_phstart=successSource

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, ‘Leslie William Lyons in Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917', Birth Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 30262,  https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61648&h=162734&tid=&pid=&queryId=aac81e12ddd36ea044460e0848e6638f&usePUB=true&_phsrc=CGP1&_phstart=successSource

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, ‘Louisa Henderson in Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917', Birth Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 145, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61648&h=1496741&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=1778

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, ‘Patk Edward Lyons in Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917', Birth Records, The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2018, Ancestry.com [database], reference number 2597, https://search.ancestrylibrary.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61648&h=109853&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=1778