Flower, Cyril Cecil

Lieutenant Cyril Cecil Flower – 28^th Battalion AIF

Cyril was the younger brother of Eric, being born in Ashburton New Zealand on January 12^th 1894. The family soon moved to Western Australia where they took up residence in Lukin Rd North Fremantle. Cyril was schooled in North Fremantle and he also became a member of the Naval Cadets.

After leaving school Cyril took up employment as a Clerk but continued his interest in the military by serving in the Naval Reserve. On the 9^th March 1915 Cyril went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner listing his physical attributes as; 6 feet in height; weight of 152lbs; chest measurement of 36-38 inches; fair complexion; grey eyes and light brown hair.

Cyril was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.13 Depot Company. He spent a few weeks here and then was transferred into “A” Company of the 28^th Battalion AIF with the regimental No.847. On the 14^th May Cyril was promoted to Sergeant and he helped train the men of his company for the next few weeks in WA. They then received their embarkation orders and they entrained from Blackboy Hill Camp to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Ascanius. The ship set sail on the 29^th June 1915 and set sail for Egypt. After disembarking in Alexandria just over three weeks later the men marched into camp but they were only in Egypt for a few weeks as on the 4^th September 1915 the 28^th Battalion departed for the Dardanelles.

The 28^th Battalion were sent to the Northern Anzac sector, where they remained for the duration of the campaign. On the 22^nd October Cyril was sent to the 7^th Field Ambulance suffering from influenza, but he returned to his unit on the 1^st November. A month later, Cyril was promoted to Temporary Company Sergeant Major.

After the evacuation from Gallipoli, the 28^th Battalion returned to Egypt on the 10^th January 1916. The next two and a half months were spent on training in Egypt as well as garrisoning part of the Suez Canal defence line.

On the 16^th March 1916 Cyril and the 28^th Battalion departed for France, reaching Marseilles five days later. The men were initially sent to the Fleurbaix sector to gain experience on the Western Front and on the 9^th June Cyril was confirmed as Company Sergeant Major.

On the 29^th July 1916 the 28^th Battalion saw action at Pozieres and were severely hit by German machine gun fire as they advanced along Pozieres Road. There were many casualties though Cyril was unhurt and he was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major. On August 4^th the 28^th Battalion capture the windmill position. Two weeks later Cyril was given a battlefield commission and was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant.

After seeing further action at Mouquet Farm, the Australians spent several weeks in Belgium before returning to the Somme in late October. The 28^th Battalion were involved in an ill advised assault through the muddy battlefield near Flers in early November and during the action Cyril was shot in the hand. He was sent to the 20^th General Hospital at Camiers for treatment and then shipped off to England where he was admitted to the 2^nd Western General Hospital. Cyril spent five weeks in hospital undergoing treatment and upon being discharged from hospital he reported to No.1 Command Depot camp at Perham Downs.

On the 9^th January 1917 Cyril was seconded for duty to the 7^th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp and he was now promoted to Lieutenant. On the 29^th January Cyril went to the Musketry school at Tidworth for a rifle and machine gun course and received a first class distinction for the work he performed. He returned to the 7^th Training Battalion on the 21^st February 1917 and he would spend the next few months in helping to train the 7^th Brigade recruits.

On the 1^st May 1917 Cyril was sent to the bayonet training school at Aldershot for instruction. This was a four week course and Cyril only returned to the 7^th Training Battalion on the 25^th May. On the 13^th June Cyril was admitted to Fargo Military hospital but he was only away for five days and he returned to Rollestone Camp on the 18^th June. Cyril remained on duty with the 7^th Training Battalion until the 8^th August 1917. He then was returned to France, being taken on strength of the 28^th Battalion on the 14^th August.

The 28^th Battalion was nearing the end of a rest period out of the line and in September 1917 they moved to Belgium where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 28^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Road on the 20^th September 1917 and successfully took all their objectives.  Cyril came through this action unscathed and the 28^th Battalion withdrew for a short rest. On the 28^th September 1917, while the men were asleep in camp, the German Gotha night bombers; dropped bombs onto the 28^th’s camp. One of the bombs fell near the 28^th Battalion’s officer’s tents and Captain Reg Gill was killed, with the 28^th’s Commanding Officer Colonel Read being badly wounded as were many more officers and men. Cyril was among those wounded, as he was hit in the arm and abdomen by shrapnel.

He was taken to the 10^th Casualty Clearing Station where his wounds were initially treated and was then put on an ambulance train to Boulogne where he was admitted to the 7^th Stationary Hospital. The abdomen wound was very serious and Cyril remained in this hospital until the 11^th November 1917. He was then transferred to England where he was admitted to the 3^rd London General Hospital. Cyril remained in hospital until March 1918. He was then declared fit enough to return to Australia. On the 8^th April 1918 Cyril boarded the transport ship Dunluce Castle and set sail for Egypt. He was then disembarked and after a few days re-embarked on the Karoola, disembarking in Fremantle on the 20^th May 1918. Cyril was discharged from the AIF on the 19^th August 1918.

It was a strange coincidence that both the Flower brothers were seriously wounded on the 28^th September 1917 on different sections of the Ypres front. Unfortunately Eric died from his wounds but Cyril pulled through.

Cyril later married Edith Stapleton in Perth in 1922 and they set up residence in Mt Lawley. Cyril later helped start the Engineering & Merchant firm of Flower, Davies and Johnson. They worked a lot with the mining sector. In 1947 Cyril was appointed a director of Freney Oil.

Cyril died on the 16^th July 1973 aged 79 after a successful career in the engineering industry.