The Soldier's Details

 

Russell was wounded in action at Ulu Pandan on 10/2/1942. Admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital with a gunshot wound. The bullet had entered through his arm and exited through his back. He also had a bayonet wound to his stomach.

The Battalion suffered heavy casualties and during the battle, all officers from Headquarters Coy, No. 2 Platoon died.

Russell became an accomplished vocalist with the Concert Party.

Robert Lyle remained at Changi throughout the war, possibly because of the injuries he had sustained during the battle for Singapore.

He was part of the Garden Control Party and X6 Party.   He was recovered from Singapore at the end of the war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1935 Russell married in South Australia, where he had been living for several years, to Rebecca (Beckie) Elizabeth Shipyard.  Their first child died at birth and then they had a daughter, Hazel June dob. 20/09/1938.  At about this time, the couple moved to live in WA. In 1937 Robert and Beckie were living North Perth, he was employed as sleeper-cutter and when Robert enlisted in 1940, he was working as a miner at Norseman.

 

Robert’s father, Lewis Laurance Lyle married Sarah Jane Russell in Victoria in 1894.  The couple had six children of whom Robert was the youngest.  His mother Sarah died unexpectedly in 1918 aged 46 years when Robert was  12 years old and older sister Louisa was about 16 years old. The older children were Eileen, Ronald, Ivy and Jessie. It is not known who looked after the younger children.

 

The above was published in the West Australian 1919, it describes the accidental death of Robert’s uncle, i.e. his mother’s brother. Russell had been fighting in France with the 38th Battalion.  Robert’s mother Sarah had died in 1918, the previous year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Correspondence to Rebecca Lyle, who resided in SA during the war.

On his return to WA, Robert found his father had died in January 1945 aged 69 years.  He was buried at Karrakatta with Robert’s mother.

 

Sadly the marriage between Rebecca and Robert dissolved.

It was reported Lyle was believed to be living in the Goldfields in 1947.

 

We had difficulty establishing Robert’s whereabouts and found this item in The West Australian newspaper in October, 1952.

He died 26 June 1967 aged 60, and buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.