Sydney Ernest Lucas was a 26-year-old smelter worker from Arthur Street, Granville, New South Wales. He was born in Dubbo, New South Wales and was the son of Mrs. Margaret Lucas, also of Granville. He enlisted on 21 August 1914 at Randwick, New South Wales and was assigned to 57 Infantry Battalion, 5 Reinforcements as a Private. He was wounded in Gallipoli, Turkey between 25 and 30 April 1915. He was admitted to a convalescence camp on 19 June 1915 and then was moved to a hospital on 4 August 1916.
Lucas was invalided back to Australia per the ‘Wiltshire’ on 31 August 1915. After spending some months recuperating, he again sailed for Europe aboard the HMAT ‘Shropshire’ from Melbourne, Victoria on 25 September 1916, disembarking in England on 11 November 1916. He proceeded overseas to France per ‘Princess Clementine’ from Folkestone, England on 30 December 1916. He was sent to hospital with measles on 3 May 1917, before being discharged and re-joining his unit on 14 May 1917. He was wounded in action on 26 September 1917 and was fit to re-join his battalion on 29 September 1917. On 21 November 1917 he was admitted to hospital with bronchitis and on 11 November 1917 he embarked for England for treatment. He returned to France on 22 August 1918 from Folkestone and re-joined his unit on 27 August 1918. He was invalided back to England with Bronchitis on 11 November 1917, then returned again to France for active service. He spent some time in England on leave from 10 February 1919 to 10 March 1919 and then returned to Australia aboard the ‘Suffolk’ on 12 April 1919.
Research Team, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2018