Bigg: Lyndon Samuel

Born in Normanville, South Australia, on 10th September 1888, Lyndon was the eldest son of Richard and Harriet Bigg.

Lyndon enlisted at Keswick on 28th January 1915 and the paperwork states that he stood 5’8” (173cm), weighed 11 stone (70kg), had fair hair and grey eyes, and was a Protestant. His occupation was listed as a carpenter.

After initial time in training, Lyndon embarked from Adelaide overseas on the HMAT Geelong on 31st May 1915, arriving in the Suez area of Egypt, in July.

He served in the 27th Battalion in the Gallipoli campaign and transferred to the 7th Field Company of Engineers in March 1916. After arriving in France in that year, Lyndon served as a Sapper in various theatres of conflict. He was also hospitalised for 130 days due to contracting a S.T.D.

While Lyndon’s unit was serving in the 1917 Ypres / Passchendaele conflicts, he suffered severe gunshot wounds to his throat and chest and, aged 29yrs, died on 21st October 1917. He was buried in the Menin Road Cemetery.

Two of his cousins also were killed during the war: Pte 3849 CJ McMurray, 46th Battalion aged 29yrs, on 17th November 1916 in France and Sgt. 1064 LJ McMurray, 23yrs, 16th Battalion, who died on the same day as Lyndon.

Although we're not able to identify Lyndon Bigg’s connection to this area, he name is included in the list of the fallen on Blackwood War Memorial.

Research by Geoff Lock, 2015