| Regimental number | 3087 |
| Place of birth | Wanganui, New Zealand |
| School | Private education, and public high school |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Telegraphist |
| Address | '[Richmond', Rocky Point Road, Sans Souci, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 3.75" |
| Weight | 116 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, J B Pybus, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served in the New Zealand Territorial Force for broken periods. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 2nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/19/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 54th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | *date of fate 19th to 20th |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 24 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 159 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Son of Lucy McCHESNEY (formerly PYBUS), Marton, New Zealand, and the late John PYBUS |
| Family/military connections | Cousin: 2369 Pte William Henry NICHOLLS, 7th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 7 May 1918. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Joined 2nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 5 February 1916. Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916. To On Command, Zeitoun School of Instruction, 30 April 1916; rejoined 54th Bn from school, Canal Zone, 30 May 1916. Obtained 1st Class Qualification at Signalling School, Zeitoun, 31 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 2220311: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.' Statement, 3123 Sergeant F. POLDING, HQ Company, 54th Bn (patient, 9th General Hospital, Rouen), 9 November 1916: 'During the attack at Fleurbaix on the 19th July, we had very heavy losses. Many dead bodies were collected after the action and buried. I was informed by several men of the burying party that Pybus's body was recovered and buried. I do not, however, remember the name of any particular man of the burying party who told me this.' Second statement, 3157 Lance Corporal F.J. RYAN, 54th Bn: 'He was seen to fall (after we took the German 3rd line at Fromelles) into a shell hole. We never were able to get any trace of his body. We had to retire from the ground: we wrote to his friends.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, PYBUS Arthur Coventry Lerouse
Red Cross file 2220311 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
