‘They could not get me with a bullet, so they used a shell’.
Sidney Joseph Lalor was born on the 23rd of March 1896 to parents John Lalor and Susan (nee Rowson). Sidney lived in Gordon, New South Wales, with his large family, including his two brothers and four sisters.
Before Sidney enlisted, he worked as a stonemason and served in the citizens’ militia with the 6th Field Co Engineers, and already had basic military training.
He enlisted with the 1st FCE on August 18, 1914. At that time, the enlistment requirements were that he be between 19 and 38 years old, height no less than 5ft 6 inches, and a minimum chest measurement of 34 inches. Sidney increased his age from 18 and 5 months to 19 and 6 months and was only 5ft 4 inches. Despite his height being shy of the mark, young Sidney Lalor was readily accepted as an engineer and given Regimental number 27.
Sidney would have the distinction of what they would later respectfully call a ‘low number’. His enlistment number a clear indication to everyone that he was one of the very first to enlist in the AIF. His bold enlistment was a sign that Sidney was clearly determined to serve his country, and his dedication throughout the war was testimony to this.
When Sidney was wounded at Gallipoli on the 16th of July, 1915, he was astonishingly casual about his brush with death and wrote a letter home to his parents describing what occurred.
Sapper S Lalor. 1st Field Company Engineer recently wounded at the Dardanelles, writing to his parents at Gordon, thus describes the incident.
‘I am writing this letter from Valetta Hospital, Malta. I was wounded on July 16. about 5.30 p m. They could not get me with a bullet, so they used a shell. Well, I was just going on duty in the trenches, when I stopped on my way up to read some news that was posted on a board.
As it happened shells were coming over all that day. While reading this news I heard the rush of the shell coming through the air, and immediately after the noise I saw the shell coming, but I could not escape it, as it seemed to fix me to the spot. It was a six-inch shell, and it burst right at my feet, and hurled me about thirty feet down the hill, and dropped me through the roof of one of the quarter-master stores, and it happened to be Mr. Mowbray’s store, but he was not there at the time. Well now, I will tell you what damage it did. The force of the explosion burnt the left side of my face and my arm and blew a lot of small gravel into the flesh.
Sister used to pick it out with the tweezers, which was very painful; but they have healed up now. My hip was hit with a piece of shell, and it tore a fair-sized lump of about four inches long and fairly deep out of my hip, but, luckily, it did not touch the hip bone. I think it will take some time to heal up, but it is not serious. I am just beginning to think I am lucky to be alive to tell the tale.’
Many witnessed Sidney’s amazing escape, William Turnley in his dairy, echoing the story of Sid, with his own words, that a six-inch shell was lobbed between the legs of Sid, blowing him into the air and falling thirty feet away through the canvas roof of the neighbouring quartermaster. Incredible as it seems, he stated that Sid walked away shocked and with half a pound of flesh missing from his thigh.
Sydney was transported to Malta on the hospital ship ‘Sicilian’ and later transferred to England and the 2nd London General Hospital in September 1915. Sidney returned to the 1st FCE on January 16th. By this time, the company had returned to Egypt following the evacuation of Gallipoli. On March 21st, Sidney and the 1st FCE embarked on the ‘Invernia’ for France and the war on the Western Front.
Sidney served in France in the field with the 1st FCE until he finally took three weeks’ leave in June 1918. He returned to the front on the 12th of July and then embarked for Australia on the 13th of October 1918 as part of his “1914 Special Leave”. His timing was perfect, as the war would be over by the time he set foot on Australian shore on the 9th of December 1918.
It was good news for the Lalor family, and Sidney’s older brother, Richard, who also enlisted and was attached to the 35th Battalion, returned a few months later in March 1919.
On his return, Sidney had taken up a new trade as a carpenter and some years later, he married Alice Helen Lillian (nee Braiding) at St Pauls Church Cleveland st Redfern on January 19, 1924, and they went on to have four children.
After the war, Sidney kept up his friendships and support for his mates from the 1st FCE and, along with others from the 1st FCE, formed their own association, with 209 William Cridland elected as Association President and Sidney elected Hon. treasurer and secretary. For many years since its formation, they held half-yearly reunions at Miss Bishops Cafe in King St Sydney, and in 1929, they changed their reunion to be held yearly, on the first Saturday after Anzac Day.
During World War 2, Sidney enlisted again on the 23rd of July 1941. Curiously, his war record indicated he was 5ft 3” and had a scar on his left buttock from WW1. His service number was N274138; a few more numbers were added to his original 27 from WW1. He served in Darwin with the rank of Sergeant with the 10th Australian Maintenance Platoon R.A.E until his discharge on the 29th of November 1945.
The family resided at 2 Eveline St, Campsie, for over 30 years, and it was later recorded in 1963 that Sidney and Alice lived at 365 Blackwall Rd, Orange Grove, Woy Woy NSW .
Sidney Lalor died on the 18th of June 1963 and was later buried at Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, and his wife Alice died on the 28th of May, 1987.
The family of Sidney and Alice has a fine number of photos, postcards, and medals. They have happily shared these family treasures for display on this website, the full complement of which can be seen by following this link. https://aussiesappers.wordpress.com/gallery-3/27-sidney-lalor-collection/
SOURCES:
27 Sidney Lalor – Photo Courtesy – Damon Bird Family Collection
Photo collection of Sidney Lalor – courtesy of Richard Simpson (Grandson)
Photo collection of Sidney Lalor – courtesy of Peter Lalor (Grandson)
AWM, AMS Archives, NAA
27 Sidney Lalor – ‘ANZAC LETTER’ – The Men of the First Field Company Australian Engineers. – Vance A Kelly
1st Field Company Engineers - Australian Imperial Forces 