WETZLER, Phillip, Frederick, Kenneth and John

Phillip, Frederick, Kenneth and John were the sons of Phillip and Mary Wetzler of Inverell. Phillip, the eldest, was the first of his brothers to enlist. When giving his information and signing his Enlistment papers in February 1915, he used the name John Jospeh Lennard, this being his Mother's maiden name.

Phillip became a Private with the 1st Battalion, 5th Reinforcement which sailed from Sydney at the end of June 1915 on HMAT A40 Ceramic. He arrived at Gallipoli on 5th August and was Killed in Action nine days later. As Private John Joseph Lennard, he was buried at Browne Dip, South of Anzac Cove. In 1923 his remains were removed to Lone Pine Cemetery.

Frederick was next to enlist in September 1915, closely followed by Kenneth. Both were Privates with the 1st Light Horse 15th Reinforcement which sailed from Sydney on HMAT A26 Armadale on 21 March 1916. They had further training in England before being sent to France later that year.

John, the youngest of the boys, enlisted at the age of eighteen in June 1918. He sailed from Sydney in September, became ill during the voyage and was disembarked at Sierra Leone to recover before continuing his journey to England. The three brothers all returned to Australia.

Phillip, Frederick and Kenneth have their names inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll. Phillip's name is inscribed on the Inverell Cenotaph and he was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade in 1919.

Photo: Courtesy Australian War Memorial Image PO9113.004