Lionel, a Surveyor's Assistant at Inverell, was the second son of German born Herman Krippner and his wife Mary. At the age of twenty four he enlisted on 27 August 1914, becoming a Private with the 1st Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron. Three weeks later, along with several other Inverell volunteers, he sailed from Australia on HMAT A16 Star of Victoria.
He served eighteen weeks at Gallipoli before being severely wounded during the Light Horse charge at Lone Pine on 7th August 1915. Following his evacuation to Malta, Lionel was sent to England where he spent forty two weeks in Lewisham Military Hospital, London. When he had recovered he was sent to France, however at Polygon Wood he was gassed and wounded. Again he was evacuated to England to recover. Eventually he was sent back to the 1st Light Horse Regiment.
Finally Private Lionel Krippner was returned to Australia in 1918. As his parents were living in the town of Emmaville, he was given a welcome home at the Emmaville Sports Ground on New Year's Day 1919. His younger brother, Ivo, had enlisted in 1916 and served with the 56th Battalion 5th Trench Mortar Battery.
After the War, both boys acquired land in the Gunnedah district where they lived for some years. Their farms were probably Soldier Settler's blocks. By 1936 Lionel was living at Ingleburn NSW. He died at Picton in 1965.
The names of Lionel and Ivo Krippner are recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll.