Biographies
Brawlin Superior School. Enlisted 14/9/1916 at Cootamundra. Embarked 25/10/1916. War service, France. Wounded 24/11/1917, and died six hours afterwards. Buried at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension, grave I.D.12. AWM File IDRL428 Box 17 (Letters re missing servicemen to British Red Cross) J.D.Chapman, 2/3rd London Field Ambulance, 23/4/1918: Lieutenant S. W. Ayers was brought into the Field Ambulance in an unconscious condition with a gun shot wound in the abdomen, and died within a few minutes. He was buried in Le Bucquiere Cemetery, in the presence of several Officers of this Squadron, and all his effects were handed over the the O.C. 68th Squadron AFC. Air Mechanic W. Warren 68th Squadron AFC, Hut 19, Westham, 8/4/1918: Lieutenant Ayers was brought down by a Hun Machine over our lines while going towards Cambrai and died of wounds at a hospital... I did not see this but it was reported back to us. Flight Sergeant L.B. Bacon no.265, Billets, Boulogne, 19/3/1918: About November 24th near Cambrai his machine was hit and crashed down in no man's land He got out of his machine apparently all right, but on running towards our lines got hit in the back Three or four of a Scottish regiment have told me this but I cannot give you their names. He was buried near Bapaume and I have seen his grave in a cemetery there - it is marked by a four bladed propeller with a copper plate bearing the name and unit, date, and saying killed in action ’. Air Mechanic A. Moran and Air Mechanic G. Tucker no. 2 AFC were present at the burial. Lt Ayers was tall, dark, thin, clean shaven, about 25, sharp features, and originally an air mechanic in No. 3 AFC Squadron. The Squadron should be able to give you details of the burial. Captain J.G. Huxley 68th Squadron FC, AIF. 3rd London General Hospital, 9/3/1918: I was told by officers of the 51st Division that Mr Ayers was brought down by enemy machine gun fire from the ground, whilst he was ground strafing. He crashed near Bourlon Wood He was seen to get out of the machine apparently unhurt when he was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the stomach. He was taken to the CCS close by where he died six hours afterwards. I saw his body and
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attended his funeral. He was buried in the Cemetery close by the CCS and a blade of a propeller with his name and inscription was erected over the grave by the 68th Squadron. His effects were sent to Peterborough, England. Portrait and biography in the All-Australia Memorial.
Lieutenant Sydney Winton Ayers All Australia Memorial (Mitchell Library)
Ayers, Private Victor Albert no.431 4th Battalion, later no.2518 37th Battalion “Fernleigh” Third Street, South Ashfield. Pottery worker Bom near Cootamundra 15/1/1891, son of Ellen Mary and Thomas Gabriel Ayers. Educated at Brawlin Superior School. Enlisted 22/8/1914. Returned to Australia 7/9/1915. Re-enlisted 28/9/1916. War service, Egypt, France. Wounded at Flers. Invalided to Birmingham and Dartford. Returned to Australia 25/9/1917. Discharged medically unfit 26/3/1918. Biography in the All Australia Memorial