There are some ANZAC stories that are tragic and there are some that are lucky. Joe Wilson was one of the lucky ones.

Janice McLennan's (wife of Robert McLennan of McLennan Real Estate in Lismore) father, Joe Wilson was born in 1899. Through photo's and family stories, this is Joe Wilsons ANZAC story.

Joe's father died when he was young and he didn't get on with his step-father so he soon found himself shipped off to Lismore as a farm boy with his uncle.

In 1915, at the young age of 16, Joe enlisted in the Australian Army. Being too young, he, like many others, adjusted his age to 17 and joined the 9th Battalion which featured a lot of soldiers from Northern NSW and Queensland.

(Joe Wilson's army papers)

It is believed that Joe was seduced by the army recruiters with the promise to see the world as part of the exciting life of being a soldier.

Initially, Joe thought he was going to Gallipoli but when that ship was full he was put on another bound for Europe.

In 1916, Joe Wilson found himself in one of the most famous battles in World War 1, the Battle of the Somme in France.

(photo of the Battle of the Somme - July to November, 1916)

Joe was injured twice during his time in combat in France and struck down with a serious bout of the Spanish Flu in 1918.

The first time Joe was hit by shrapnel from an exploding bomb on June 14, 1916.

(Joe recuperating after his first injury)

The second he was shot in the lower part of his body a sniper on March 19, 1917.

(Joe and his nurse in England after his second injury)

Joe's injuries were so serious that doctors had to fuse his hip together that left him with one leg shorter than the other.

(Joe Wilson (right) just before he was sent back to France for the third time)

Then in 1918, Joe suffered a serious bout of the Spanish Flu that hospitalised him again.

A few days before the Armistice was signed on the the 11th of November, 1918 Winston Churchill sent a lot of troops back into battle to regain land from the Germans. Joe could see no reason to risk his life again for a bit of land when the war was won so he travelled to Scotland where he was arrested and charged for desertion.

This cost Joe a couple of medals and quite a few friends who lost their lives in that final battle. It was not enough to not be awarded the Kings commendation upon his return.

(picture of Joe Wilson and King George's commendation)

When Joe returned home in 1920, he married Minnie and built a life in Lismore.

Tomorrow we celebrate ANZAC Day. A time when we can remember brave young soldiers like Joe Wilson that volunteered to fight for our liberties and our freedom. Some, like Joe were lucky enough to survive and live a full life, others were not so lucky.

There are a number of ways you can commemorate ANZAC Day tomorrow.

The Lismore App has an ANZAC Day button where you can take your mobile phone to the end of your driveway and play the Ode and Last Post from that button at 6am. It is as simple as that, check the ANZAC button out on the front page at the top if you haven't already (ANZAC Day).

The ABC will be broadcasting a 5:30am service from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

10am will see another service, this one from the ANZAC memorial in Sydney. Again this will be broadcast on ABC TV as well as streamed live.