Not Forgotten, 3291 Private Victor LUNDY, 21 Battalion AIF, World War 1

Private Victor Lundy, a farmer from Dowerin, was born in Horsham, Victoria, the seventeenth child and eleventh son of Mary Ann and the late Alexander Lundy and was educated at Polkemmet State School in Victoria. He enlisted at Black Boy Hill in Perth on 17 November 1916 in the 46th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements. He embarked from Fremantle on HMAT A34 Persic on 29 December 1916, spending 8 days in hospital with influenza on the journey and arriving in England on 3 March 1917 where he was stationed at Codford Camp and in trouble for being absent without leave between 9.30pm on 12 May until 9.30pm on 13 May 1917 and lost 28 days’ pay as a result.
Private Lundy proceeded to France to reinforce the 21st Battalion on 9 July 1917. In October 1917 the 21st Battalion participated in the 3-kilometre advance that captured Broodseinde Ridge, east of Ypres. This battle was part of the Ypres offensive, a large operation, involving twelve divisions. The attacking troops' objectives were approximately 1,500 metres deep, the advance would be preceded by a massive artillery bombardment; and a creeping barrage would lead the troops on to their objectives and then protect them while they consolidated their positions.
The attack on Broodseinde Ridge began before dawn on 4 October 1917. The Australian troops involved were shelled heavily on their start line and a seventh of their number became casualties even before the attack began. When it did, the attacking troops were confronted by a line of troops advancing towards them; the Germans had chosen the same morning to launch an attack of their own. The Australians forged on through the German assault waves and gained all their objectives along the ridge. It was not without cost, however. German pillboxes were characteristically difficult to subdue, and the Australian divisions suffered 6,500 casualties.
Victor Lundy was killed in this action during an attack on Zonnebeck just west of Ypres in Belgium on 4 October 1917 and has no known grave. Private Lundy is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
On the Roll of Honour circular Mrs. Mary Ann Lundy wrote that Victor was very desirous to fight for his homeland and though turned down seven times for defective sight, he was accepted for enlistment on the eighth attempt. In his medical records the doctor recorded that his right eye was doubtful but that Lundy was a good rifle shot with his left eye. Two of his cousins were also killed in the Great War. Private Lundy’s mother was dependent on him, and wrote to Base Records after his death and again in April and in July 1918 to try to expedite matters regarding his back pay and pension as she had no other income.
Private Lundy was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal