Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lindsay Lee ARCHIBALD, was born on 10 January 1891 at Newtown, Sydney, and attended Camdenville Public School in Newtown. He joined the NSWGR&T, in the Traffic Branch, on 22 November 1906 as a Telephone Boy in the Sydney District. On 9 September 1907 he was appointed junior porter in the same Branch and District and remained there until 5 April 1910 when he was transferred, in the same position, to the Lismore District. He remained in the Lismore District and the Traffic Branch for the rest of his employment with the NSWGR&T, becoming a 3rd class porter on 3 January 1912 and a 3rd class shunter on 15 May 1913 before reverting to a porter on 25 July 1914. Information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour of Australia in the Memorial War Museum indicates he was based at Mullumbimby for at least part of his time in the Lismore District. On 18 March 1916 he was officially released from duty to join the AIF.
Two days earlier, on 16 March 1916, at Lismore, Lindsay enlisted in the AIF where he was appointed to the rank of Trooper, Service Number 2928, and assigned to the 21st Reinforcements to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment. His nominated next of kin was his sister, Mrs Gladys Richards of Mullumbimby.
On 19 August 1916 he embarked at Sydney for Egypt per RMS ‘Mooltan’ and arrived at Suez on 21 September 1916 where he went to Isolation Camp. On 20 October 1916 he joined the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment where he stayed for a month before transferring to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment on 20 November 1916.
On 11 April 1918, Lindsay was killed in action in Palestine and two days later he was buried with due ceremony at El Ghoraniye, Es Salt (60 yards from the road), with Chaplain the Rev J H Bates officiating.
In his Will, Lindsay appointed Miss Frances Locke of Billinudgel (later of Burringbar) as his sole beneficiary and executrix. After his death several letters were generated between her and her solicitors, and the AIF, before the AIF would issue her a certificate of death so probate could be granted. No information could be found as to the nature of the relationship between Miss Locke and Lindsay Archibald.
On 1 March 1921, in accordance with the standard practice of the time, AIF Base Records wrote to Mrs Richards (his sister and next of kin) requesting information about nearer blood relatives to Lindsay than herself, for the purpose of distributing war medals and providing further details of place of burial. This letter listed the hierarchy of relatives. Mrs Richards sent a comprehensive reply, giving the address of her father, John Archibald, in Newtown and also the addresses of her four brothers who were still living, as well as stating that her mother was no longer living.
On 6th June 1924 further information about Lindsay’s place of burial was sent to John Archibald, stating that he was buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel, Plot H, Grave 9. The letter also said: ‘While the actual place of burial remains unchanged, the previous registration allotted has been altered to conform with the uniform layout of this cemetery.’ It is not clear if this means the site of Lindsay’s original burial at El Ghoraniye was incorporated into the Jerusalem War Cemetery, or his remains were exhumed and moved to the Jerusalem War Cemetery where the registration of his grave was changed without further moving his gravesite within the cemetery. No record of his remains being exhumed and moved is included with his military record.
(NAA B2455-3034938)