John Stuart Dyce
Rank:
Private
Serial No:
Serial No. 3388
Regiment:
56th Battalion & 36th Battalion
Suburb:
Appin
John Stuart Dyce - Information
John Stuart Dyce was born in Junee, near Wagga Wagga in 1891. His parents Clarence George and Margaret Jane eventually moved the family to Campbelltown, where Clarence found employment teaching at Appin Public School. John completed his schooling at Appin, after which he received further training in wheat farming, later becoming a farmer. However in 1916, the life of the Dyces would be forever changed. In October 1916, John's younger brother, Alexander, joined the AIF. A month later, John also enlisted, signing up on the 13th of November in Cootamundra.
John began his training at the Showground Camp in Sydney and by November he was stationed to Liverpool Camp as a Private with the 56th Battalion. John departed Sydney Harbour on the 24th of January 1917 aboard the HMAT Anchises. He arrived at Devonport on the 27th of March, and was taken to the 14th Training Battalion. In April, he was transported to Windmill Hill Camp in Hurdcott. John joined his Battalion, leaving Southampton for France on the 23rd of August. Marched into Roulles Base, he was transferred to the 36th Battalion in September. The 36th Battalion were located in Belgium, taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres, launching attack after attack in the mud. On the 17th of October 1917, John was at Passchendaele, taking cover in a shell hole in No Man's Land with a Sergeant McDougal. They were both killed outright when an artillery shell hit. Today his name can be found on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper (Ypres) in Belgium. His parents remained in Campbelltown and are buried at St Peters.