Peter McInnes Syme

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 01/12/2017 - 10:42

First Name:

Peter

Middle Name:

Mcinnes

Last Name:

Syme

Mother's Name:

Margaret Syme nee Postlewaite

Father's Name:

Duncan Syme

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, July 24, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

56th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, December 26, 1918

Place of Death:

Catillon, France

Cause of Death:

Accidental

Details:

Peter McInnes Syme (Service No 2830), was born in 1893.

Peter was orphaned when he was very young and had to move from Helensburgh, N.S.W. to Lithgow, N.S.W., to live with relatives.

At enlistment he was a single, 22 years old, worked as a farmer and had served with the Cadets. Peter embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides, with the 20th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, on 2nd November 1915. He was transferred to the 56th Battalion in Egypt on 16th February 1916. Peter arrived in France on 29th June 1916 and was admitted to hospital due to sickness the same day. He did not return to duty until after the Battle of Fromelles.

Peter survived the war but was injured in a gas attack on 1st October 1918. After treatment, he was attached to the Australian Provost Corps as an Officer's Batman.

On 26th December 1918, Peter was with a French civilian, at Catillon, France, fishing with bombs, when it is believed one of the bombs exploded, killing both men. There were no witnesses but it it believed a bomb exploded and both were killed.

Peter is buried in Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois, France, Plot II, Row 1, Grave 20.

Peter's brothers John Syme (Service No 279) and Duncan Syme (Service No 4270) also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SYME PETER MCINNESS