Australian Hero

Octavius Pyne was born on 4 November 1890 in Mount Barker, South Australia, the son of John and Elizabeth Pine. He was working as a telegraph linesman when the First World War began. Pyne enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 25 March 1915, and after several weeks of training was allocated to reinforcements for the 10th Battalion.

A little over a week later, on 25 April, his youngest brother Patrick, who had joined the 10th Battalion at the outbreak of the war, was killed during the landing at Gallipoli. Patrick was 19 years old.

Pyne was sent to Gallipoli in mid-September where he joined the 10th Battalion. In December the positions at Anzac were evacuated, bringing the AIF’s first campaign to a close. The 10th Battalion spent time in Egypt and were sent to France, arriving at the beginning of April 1916. After gaining valuable experience in the Nursery Sector near Armentieres, the battalion was sent south to the Somme. There Pyne took part in the attack on Pozieres in July, an attack near Mouquet Farm in August and endured one of the worst winters in recorded history.

In the spring of 1917 the Germans withdrew to their prepared positions known as the Hindenburg Line. On 24 February the 10th Battalion moved forward and occupied Gird Trench near Gueuedecourt. The following day the battalion attacked and captured Le Barque Switch Trench.

Pyne, with his experience in civilian life, had become a linesman in the 10th Battalion’s signals section. After the capture of Le Barque Switch Trench, Pyne and his fellow signallers were laying signal wire when the Germans began shelling their former positions.

Shrapnel from one of the shells hit Pyne in the head, fracturing his skull. He was evacuated to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne, arriving on 1 March, his condition listed as “dangerous”. In the ensuing days, he developed septic meningitis and despite the best of care, he died in the early hours of 17 March.

He was 26 years old.

Image: Octavius Pyne

🙏💖🥳Thank You For Your Service.

😔This Post Is For All Our Lost Souls.

Pray You ALL Rest In Eternal Peace.

The Path With God.

Thank You All For Your Service.

Have Done Your Country Proud.

You Are a True Hero.🙏💖😔 All Our Gallant Men & Women’s Strength Over the Last Few Battles of War as taken Its Toll on Our Brave Men & Women Past & Present.

War as Its Price.

Only the Brave Fight to Protect Our Country.

Not Just UK. 🙏💖🙏🇬🇧 To All those who served and came home.

you for your service.

🇬🇧🙏💖🙏 To All those who lost their lives. 🙏💖😔

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and In the morning, we will remember them.😔