The Story of Cyril Ernest Connors / Memories ... June 18

This post tells the story of my paternal Grand Uncle, Cyril Ernest Connors  (1888 - 1942).

Our common ancestors are:  Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah (Susan) Fullagar Hukins.

I'm publishing this post on the anniversary of my grand uncle's passing.

In Remembrance

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

• Cyril Ernest was born in Berry, New South Wales in April of 1888.  He was the eighth of ten children born to Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah (Susan) Fullagar Hukins.  

• By the time Cyril was 22 years of age, both his parents had died and two of his brothers had passed away.  His brother William had died of tuberculosis at the age of 28, and his brother James had tragically died at the age of 23 of burns received during an accident at his workplace.  

 

• In 1913 Cyril was living with his older brother Percy in Berry, New South Wales, and both were working as 'carters' - typically carters transported goods, such as produce, around the region in horse-drawn vehicles.  

• The brothers had grown up working on farms and were known as excellent horsemen.  Cyril had worked on and off as a horse breaker in the region and had also been a member of the Berry Lancers Militia Regiment for around seven years.

• On the 1st of October 1914 Cyril travelled to Adamstown, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, to enlist for service in WW1.  He was 26 years old.

Attestation Form - World War 1 - Cyril Ernest Connors

• On his Attestation Form, Cyril listed his trade/occupation as "horse breaker", and he identified his brother Percy as his next of kin.

Cyril Ernest Connors - Lighthorseman WW1

World War 1 Service

• Cyril enlisted with a mounted infantry regiment, the 6th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, 'B' Squadron
• He embarked in December of 1914 aboard the HMAT A29 Suevic
• He spent time training in Egypt before arriving at Gallipoli on the 20th of May 1915
• The 6th Light Horse (without their horses) were responsible of a sector on the far right of the ANZAC line, playing a defensive role until it left the peninsula at the end of 1915
• Just prior to this though, Cyril became ill with influenza while fighting at Gallipoli 
• In October 1915, he was evacuated to Malta aboard the hospital ship HMHS Formosa 
• He spent six month recuperating at the Floriana Military Hospital in Malta, and was then sent to Egypt where he joined the Imperial Camel Corps 
• This unit saw some heavy fighting and Cyril was wounded several times
• He rose to the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant

• In 1918 the Camel Corps was disbanded and Cyril was transferred back to the Light Horse
• He returned to Australia on leave in November 1918 just as the war was ending.

Sadly, Cyril's youngest brother Erice Sylvester (the baby of the family who had enlisted in September of 1915, while Cyril was fighting at Gallipoli) was killed in action in France in December of 1916.  

Cyril was at that time serving with the Camel Corps in Egypt.  I do wonder at what point Cyril found out about the death of his brother, and how that impacted him, both emotionally and psychologically. 

A postcard photo of Vera
that she sent to her brother while
he was away serving during WW1

• In February of 1922, at the age of 33, Cyril married Vera Agnes Coleman at Murwillumbah in New South Wales.

Cyril was aged 33 and Vera was 25 years old.

They went on to have seven children, four sons and three daughters, although sadly their first-born daughter passed away when she was only eight months old.

• Between the years of 1925 to 1936, Cyril worked at the State Government's Wollongbar Experiment Farm.  He was appointed the Dairy Foreman in 1928.

• Cyril changed employment in 1937 and began working as a Stud Master at the Camden Park Estate.

• The 1937 Electoral Roll shows Cyril and wife Vera (and family) living at the Camden Park Estate, near Menangle in New South Wales. 

• By the beginning of 1942 however, the family had moved to Baerami Creek, in the Upper Hunter River region of New South Wales.

• In January of 1942 Cyril travelled once more to Adamstown in New South Wales to re-enlist with the Volunteer Defence Corps.

 

World War 11 Service

• Cyril enlisted in the Second World War in January 1942.

• He was attached to the Camp Staff at Raymond Terrace in New South Wales and was likely involved with recruit training.

• Six months after his re-enlistment, Cyril passed away suddenly.  He died in June of 1942 at the age of 54, survived by his wife and six children.

• Cyril was buried at the Alstonville Cemetery