Acting Sergeant Reginald Pye
4th Battalion AIF
Service Number: 1243
Born: 1888, South Yarra, Victoria
Died: 6 Aug 1915, Lone Pine, Gallipoli Turkey
Reginald Leslie Pye was born in South Yarra Victoria in 1888, the son of dentist William Henry and Ada Pye. The family moved to NSW and by 1901 were living in St Marys where their children completed his education at St Marys Public School. Pye’s brother Harold Hume was killed at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915. Pye’s father William, holding the rank of Captain served as the Senior Denta Ol fficer at the 4th Australian General Hospital Randwick until 1917.
Pye enlisted on 14 October 1914 and was allocated to H Company, 4th Battalion. He embarked on A14 HMAT Euripides on 20 October 1914 and after a brief stop in Albany Western Australia, arrived in Egypt in early December 1914. Pye underwent training in Egypt before embarking as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the Lake Michigan on 5 April 1915. The 4th Battalion, a reserve battalion did not land at the northern end of Bolton’s Ridge on the Gallipoli peninsula, until almost dusk on 25 April 1915. They quickly entrenched along the summit a little south of the 400 Plateau and the following day briefly held the Lone Pine position before being forced to retreat before digging in to defend the beachhead. On 4 May 1915, Pye was promoted to Lance Corporal before being promoted to Corporal and then acting Sergeant a week later. On 6 August 1915, Pye was killed during the Battle of Lone Pine.
Memorial Details:
- Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey
- Roll of Honor, Memory Park, Penrith
- Roll of Honor, St Marys Public School
- Roll of Honor, St Stephen’s Church, Penrith
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, PYE RL 1243
- Australian War Memorial First World War Nominal Roll
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Penrith City Library Biography files
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