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Enlistment
Cyril enlisted in the 21st Reinforcements of the 26th Battalion in Brisbane for WW1. He enlisted because his father was in the armed services and his brother was as well. -
Going To Egypt
Cyril sailed on the Orimonde from Sydney to Egypt for additional training before war. The trip took one month and he was sent to Camp Suez. -
Evacuated
Cyril was evacuated and placed in a segregation camp in Suez as he had been in contact with other soldiers with measles. He remained there for a week in isolation. -
Training in England
Cyril was transported to Port Tewfik (now Suez Port) where he embarked on the transport ship T15 for Southampton, England. Training was completed there and Cyril was sent to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford. Troops were garrisoned across the countryside and 15 different camps were created in and around the Wiltshire village of Codford and used as a base for both military training and convalescence. -
Going to France
Whilst Cyril was training with the 12th Training Battalion he was transferred from the 26th Battalion to the 49th Battalion. After his training was completed he was transported via Folkenstone, England, to join his unit in Havre, France, and from there he moved into active service. -
Sickness
The weather had turned cold and wet in and Cyril was reported sick. He was initially admitted to No 13 Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 41st Stationary Hospital in Pont Remy where he was diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia. -
Death
He died in the second wave of the influenza. It was triggering a cytokine storm that ravages the stronger immune system of young adults. The crowding of troops in trenches, camps, crowded transportation and field hospitals spread the deadly virus.