CUTTS, Lionel Ray

Lionel’s birth to Joseph and Fanny Cutts was registered at Wychproof, Victoria in 1892. He attended Wychproof Public School and later moved to the Bonshaw District in northern NSW where he was working as a Grazier prior to enlisting at Narrabri in 1915.

Lionel became a member of the 7th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement and sailed from Australia for Egypt on HMAT A32 Themistocles in October 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in April 1916 and two months later sent to France. The following month he was transferred to England on a hospital ship and admitted to hospital at Portsmouth as he was ill with scarlet fever. He received a promotion to Sergeant and eventually returned to France in October 1917. The following year he suffered a severe gunshot wound to his face and was again evacuated to England for treatment. He returned to Australia on the hospital ship Karoola in June 1919 and was medically discharged in March 1920.

Lionel married and lived in Sydney until his death in 1975. His name is inscribed on Honour Rolls at the Wychproof School, Victoria; the Methodist Church at Inverell; Bonshaw and the Inverell Honor Roll.