. ▁ ▁Like ▁around ▁one ▁fifth ▁of ▁his ▁Australian ▁coun tr ymen , ▁Joseph ▁Ly ons ▁himself ▁was ▁dev out ly ▁Catholic ▁and ▁proud ly ▁of ▁Irish ▁her itage . ▁He ▁had ▁led ▁Labor ' s ▁anti - cons cription ▁campaign ▁in ▁Tas mania ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁I . ▁As ▁prime ▁minister , ▁he ▁travel led ▁to ▁London ▁with ▁wife ▁En id ▁Ly ons ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁for ▁the ▁Silver ▁J ub ile e ▁celebr ations ▁of ▁King ▁George ▁V ▁and ▁Queen ▁Mary ▁– ▁a ▁journey ▁necess it ating ▁six ▁months ▁absence ▁from ▁Australia . ▁Ly ons ▁faced ▁anti - C atholic ▁demonstr ations ▁in ▁Edinburgh , ▁visited ▁his ▁ancest ral ▁hom eland ▁of ▁Ireland ▁and ▁had ▁an ▁audience ▁with ▁the ▁Pope ▁in ▁Rome . ▁Ly ons ▁returned ▁to ▁Britain ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁for ▁the ▁coron ation ▁of ▁King ▁George ▁VI , ▁conduct ing ▁a ▁diplom atic ▁mission ▁to ▁Italy ▁en ▁route ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Government , ▁visit ing ▁Ben ito ▁M uss ol ini ▁during ▁the ▁period ▁of ▁appe as ement ▁of ▁Europe ' s ▁F asc ists ▁in ▁the ▁lead ▁up ▁to ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁ ▁Ly ons ▁sent ▁veter an ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Billy ▁Hugh es ▁to ▁represent ▁Australia ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁League ▁of ▁Nations ▁Assembly ▁in ▁Gene va ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 ▁Hugh es ▁became ▁Minister ▁for ▁Health ▁and ▁Re pat ri ation . ▁Hugh es ▁made ▁a ▁memor able