Richard’s occupation and marital status on enlistment in 1914 was detailed as a pipe layer, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 22 June 1880, in Araluen.
- Parents – Alfred Lynn and Mary Jane Collins, Araluen, New South Wales.1Adopted son of Mr Alfred Lynn, following the death of his Mother’s sister when he was an infant.Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Saturday 27 January 1900, p 4.
- Enlisted – 22 August 1914, Kensington, New South Wales. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A19 Afric on 18 October 1914.2University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=182114. Accessed 17 May 2024.
- Regimental Number– 249.3National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Lynn, Richard John, Item ID – 8205932. Accessed 17 May 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 34.4Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1790878. Accessed 17 May 2024.
- Military service – Divisional Train, No 1 Company, Rank – Driver.5Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/167764. Accessed 17 May 2024. Richard served on the Western Front and was awarded the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
- Returned to Australia on 10 August 1916.
- Died – 1 May 1955.6NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Death 10018/1955, Liverpool, Parents Alfred and Mary Jane. Accessed 17 May 2024.
- Buried – Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Matraville, Randwick City.7Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175100826/richard-john-lynn Accessed 17 May 2024.
Richard and his sister8Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Tuesday 29 August 1899, p 4. were the children of Alfred John Lynn (1843-1906)9Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Saturday 29 September 1906, p 5, Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182553909/alfred-j-lynn, and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187076627/alfred_john_lynn. Accessed 1 June 2024. and Mary Jane Collins (1844-1923)10Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 30 October 1923, p 2. Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187076631/mary-jane-lynn. Accessed 1 June 2024. Alfred John Lynn and Mary Jane Collins married in 1862 in Braidwood and both worked at Mr. Hassall’s Araluen station. Alfred was the son of James Searle Lynn (1808-1880) and Caroline Keevil (1821-1866) and was born in Braidwood. Mary Jane Collins was the daughter of Richard and Mary Collins.
Richard served in BOER War (Service Numbers 690 and 384)11National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B4418, Lynn, R.J Item ID – 684240 and 684238. Accessed 17 May 2024. and Roslyn Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, Hypercet Printing, Goulburn. 2004. p 11. His first period of service was with the 1st Light Horse enlisting on 25 August 1899, embarking on 14 November 189912Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1435672. Accessed 17 May 2024. and discharged on his return to Australia on 8 January 1901. His occupation was given as a boundary rider, who was single, with his date of birth given as 22 June 1880, in Araluen, and his father Alfred nominated as his next of kin.
In reporting on the NSW Lancers in January 1900 the Sydney Morning Herald13Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 23 January 1900, p 6. noted that ‘Trooper Lynn, of the Australian Horse, was one of the youngest of the contingent. He was barely 20 years old. His parents reside here [in Araluen].’14Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 2.
In January 1900, the Goulburn Evening Penny Post15Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Saturday 27 January 1900, p 4. reporting on the NSW troops killed or captured in the engagement at Rensburg noted ‘Trooper R. J. Lynn, of the same regiment, [1st Australian Horse], who is missing, hails from Araluen, was the adopted son of Mr. Alfred Lynn, being brought up by Mrs. Lynn from an infant, and being the child of Mrs. Lynn’s sister. Mr. Lynn is at present manager for Messrs Hassall and Royds at Bettowynd. A letter was recently received from the deceased which he wrote in a cheerful spirit, and in which the poor fellow spoke of coming home a better man than he left it. He was only 19 years of age.’
The safe return of soldiers in January 1901 was reported in the Goulburn Evening Post.16Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881-1940), Tuesday 15 January 1901, p 4. ‘We understand that Lieutenant Vaughan, Troopers W. Grenenger (Braidwood), I. Heazlett. (Major’s Creek), and A.[R.] Lynn (Araluen), who returned by the Orient from South Africa last week, are expected back on Tuesday next. Nothing has been heard of Trooper Lynn since his capture and subsequent imprisonment in Pretoria, from which he must have been released upon the surrender of the city to Lord Roberts. His many friends will therefore be glad to hear of his safe return.’17Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 46.
In January 1901, the Daily Telegraph18Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883-1930), Thursday 17 January 1901, p 5. reported at Araluen ‘Trooper Richard Lynn, of the Araluen First Australian Horse, who returned by the transport Orient from South Africa, arrived home today. He was met by an escort of old comrades and a large body of townsfolk some distance out, and escorted into the town. … he is to be entertained at a social, and presented with an address of welcome and a souvenir by the residents. Lieutenant Vaughan and Troopers Grenenger and Heazlett, of Braidwood, who returned with Lynn, are also invited.’
The social was reported in the Braidwood and Araluen Express on 22 January 1901, as19Braidwood and Araluen Express and People’s Advocate (NSW : 1899-1904), Tuesday 22 January 1901, p 2 and Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 47. ‘Welcome to Trooper Lynn … Shortly after 8 o’clock on Thursday night the Federal Hall was crammed with a good humored assemblage, which to a stranger seemed as if it included every man, woman, and child in the Valley; … reading the following address Trooper Richard J. Lynn, 1st Australian Horse, Araluen… Dear Sir. In welcoming you back from the war … for you represented us; your fellow townsmen and comrades who were unable to take upon themselves the duties and responsibilities which you so well undertook for us. We thank you sincerely … In reply, Trooper Lynn thanked the audience for their cordial welcome. He was glad to be present again among his friends. He referred to the unfortunate circumstance of his being taken prisoner with Lieutenant Dowling and others. They had been well treated by the Boers while prisoners; but for all that he and the others would have preferred to have taken part with their comrades in the campaign.’
Richard Lynn next enlisted on 22 April 1902,20Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 12. giving his place of birth as Araluen, NSW, and his age as 21, with his occupation given as a station manager who was single, with his father Alfred nominated as his next of kin.21Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/787201 and https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/787202. Accessed 17 May 2024. Richard enrolled in the 5th Battalion Light Horse, enrolled at Araluen D Squadron22Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 5 and Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1440467. Accessed 17 May 2024. disembarking on 18 June 1902 at Durban. The Boer War ended before their arrival and Richard was discharged on 1 August 1902.
Richard served in WWI (Service Number 249) enlisting on 22 August 1914, and returning to Australia on 10 August 1916. In a letter dated 6 July 1915, from Zaherich Camp, near Alexandria, Egypt23Maddrell, Braidwood. Letters from the Front, p 53. he writes ‘We sailed from Lemnos Island where we had been anchored for some time, on Saturday night. It is only a few hours sail to Gallipoli Peninsular. Arriving there in the very early hours of the never-to-be-forgotten 25th April (Sunday). … My team mate and myself being attached to the 3rd battery, R.F.A.A. NSW Corps. We did not land that day … Presently the shells began to fall thick and fast around us … away we sailed, without getting hit … Next items were some bombs from a hostile aeroplane … managed to miss us. So ended our first day at Gallipoli’.
Richard also served in WWII (Service Number N71944)24National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B884, Lynn, Richard John Item ID – 5602777. Accessed 17 May 2024. with his date of birth noted as 22 June 1883, at Araluen, NSW. Richard enlisted at Paddington, at age 56, on 29 February 1940, with his occupation given as a clerk who was single, and with no known next of kin.25Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/1716371. Accessed 17 May 2024. Richard was discharged on 15 January 1941.