LISSON, William Thomas

William Thomas Lisson first tried to enlist on 8 March, 1915. He would have been just over sixteen at the time, but claimed to be eighteen and to be working as a jeweller in Hobart, Tasmania. He was one of nine children born between 1878 and 1895  to Adam Claude Lisson and Caroline Gleeson Lisson, who lived at North Richmond, Tasmania. He tried to enlist ahead of his eldest brother, Robert William Lisson, who volunteered on 9 May, 1915 and was to die of wounds on 10 August, 1918, just three months before the armistice.

William Lisson was rapidly removed from training following a letter from his mother revealing his true age and had to wait until 1917 before he tried again to go to the war. He had by then, according to his record, been with the Cadets for three years and was still in training. Caroline Lisson had been widowed in 1909 and this may have eventually prompted the move from Tasmania. In  1917, she was living in East Melbourne, at 55 Berry St., and it was from here that William Lisson enlisted on 26 April, 1917, and went to train at Broadmeadows the next month. he was still only eighteen and had to have a letter from Caroline Lisson, giving her consent. He was placed with M. Company, 2nd Depot Battalion, but on 3 July, he was attached to the 9th Reinforcements to the 59th Battalion. They left Australia on HMAT 'Port Melbourne' A16. Here, on 17 July, young Lisson committed the first of many offences: absent from parade and disobedience of orders at sea, earning him a forfeit of one day's pay.

On 13 September, the new recruits marched in to Hurdcott, England, where they were attached to the 15th Training Battalion at codford to undergo further training before heading to France. Here, William Lisson went AWL from midnight on 30 November to 6 pm on 8 December. He ws put into custody awaiting trial and then spent 16 days punishment on Field patrol, and lost 25 days' pay. This did not dampen his spirits: he again went AWL from 24-29 December. 

On 8 January, 1918, the recruits left England for France. Here William Lisson joined the 59th Battalion, being taken on strength on 18 January. The same day, he reported in sick and was diagnosed with gonorrhea, losing anothre 6 days from 19-25 January while he was treated. He rejoined his unit on 25 January, but a month later, was again in hospital, this time with influenza. On 2 March, 1918, he was again ill and admitted to the 14th Field Ambulance Station with rheumatism, which turned into rheumatic fever, necessitating his return to hospital in England. He was first sent to Brook War Hospital at Woolwich and then transferred to the 3rd Australian Hospital at Dartford on 4 April.  

He was discharged from hospital on 13 June, 1918, but was then in convalescence at the No 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth, then the No 4 Depot. In July, he was on leave, but again got sick, and was placed in Brook Hospital again. Discharged fromhospital, he again went AWL from 9-10 August, before being sent back to the hospital on 21 August, From here he was discharged to the N0. 4 Convalescent Depot again, but again went AWL, for six days, from 15-21 October. Sent back to the No 4 Con. Depot on 7 November, he was transferred on to the No 2. Com Depot on  9 August. It was from here that he was discharged from the army on the grounds of ill-health (dermatitis), returning to Australia on HS  'Somalia', disembarking at Adelaide on  10 December, 1918.

In 192o, he married Doris Ruby Wells. In 1924, they were living at 'Tasmania', Fairmont Rd. , Hawthorn and he was working as a painter. By 1931, they were permanently settled at 35 Imbros St., Sandringham, perhaps as a result of the War Service Home grant he had applied in April, 1925. He died in 1964.