Susan Hazell shares the story of her father Lionel John (Bossy) Driscoll.

Lionel John (Bossy) Driscoll was born in Coraki NSW in 1898 to John and Emma Driscoll.  His family were early settlers of the Richmond River District.

Lionel  enlisted into the Army in Tenterfield  NSW on 26th January 1916. Although records show that he was 18 years and 9 months, he was actually 17 years and 9 months.  Like all his friends in the area he was keen to serve for ‘King and Country’.  He became part of the 31st Battalion.  One of his friends from Coraki was Patrick Bugden VC. They had played football together in the Northern Rivers District as young men.

Lionel left for London from Brisbane on 4th May, 1916.  He was then sent to fight in France on 12 November 1916. During the next three years, while fighting in France, he suffered from Trench Feet and Influenza as a result of Mustard Gas used by the Germans. He was returned to England on many occasions for treatment, but always marched back to the Front.

Lionel returned to Australia from England on 10 June 1919.

Although Lionel led a full life on return he remained very ill with Consumption.  He was hospitalized many times.  He did become a jockey and rode many winners in the Northern Rivers District.  After his marriage to Bertha Palmer in 1928, he was a popular and successful race horse owner and trainer.  He raced horses in Brisbane where he settled with his family.  Lionel continued to become ill and required many admissions to Greenslopes Military Hospital in Brisbane over the years.

Lionel never talked about his experiences in the Army.  He just seemed to deal with his life.

On 6 June 1953 my father passed away peacefully at Greenslopes Hospital.

He was a very  brave and gentle man.

He had five children, I am the youngest of those.  I only knew my Dad for four years and I still miss him today. My wish for the future is to not have our Country send young men to War.  The suffering never ends.