Bushell, Cyril Alfred Arthur

1525/2570 Private Cyril Arthur Bushell - 9th & 14th Light Horse Regiment

Cyril Arthur Alfred Bushell was born in Fremantle WA in 1898 to Arthur and Sarah Bushell. He had a brother John born in 1896, a sister Lily in 1899 and Frederick in 1901.

His brother John Waller Bushell had been born in South Australia, but then the family moved to WA where John was baptised in Fremantle in 1897. The family remained a year in Fremantle and Cyril was born here.

In 1899 the Bushell's returned to South Australia.

The family lived in Broken Hill for a few years but then returned to Adelaide.

Cyril was working as a labourer in the Adelaide district prior to the Great War. On the 21st January 1916 Cyril enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 124lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Cyril was sent to Mitcham Army Camp near Adelaide. He was sent to the Signal school where he learnt to become a signaller. Once he had finished his signal course he was then attached to the 18th Reinforcements to the 9th Light Horse Regiment.

This group embarked from Adelaide on the 23rd June 1916 aboard the HMAT Katuna. On being disembarked in Egypt in July 1916 Cyril was sent to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment. Instead of then joining the 9th Light Horse Regiment, Cyril was instead transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps.

Cyril served with the Imperial Camel Corps at Magdhaba in December 1916, Rafa in January 1917 and Gaza in April 1917. In July and August 1917 he was sent to a Signal School for instruction before returning to the Imperial Camel Corps and serving at the actions of Beersheba in October 1917 and Jerusalem in November 1917.

In January 1918 Cyril saw further action at Jericho in January 1918 and then the Jordan Valley and Es Salt in the first half of 1918.

The Imperial Camel Corps were then disbanded in June/July 1918 and Cyril was sent to the 14th Light Horse Regiment with whom he saw out the remainder of the war.

After the Armistice in November 1918, Cyril remained in Egypt for another nine months and also took part when the Australian Mounted troops helped put down the 1919 Egyptian uprising.

On the 24th July 1919 Cyril boarded the transport ship Dongola and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Adelaide on the 14th August 1919. Cyril was discharged from the AIF on the 9th January 1920.

His brother John also served in WW1 with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade and 5th Division Trench Mortar Battery and also survived the Great War.

After being discharged from the AIF, Cyril resumed work as a clerk & bookmaker and was living in Glenelg South Australia and then Dunleigh Gardens.

He married Mary Cammiss in Norwood on the 18th July 1921 and a son called John would be born from the marriage

Cyril also served in World War Two (S16164). He served as a Lieutenant in the Signals in firstly the 9th/23rd Light Horse Regiment and then the 3rd Reconnaissance Company before being sent to the 6th Armoured Brigade. the 3rd Australian Armoured Corps.

Cyril had his service in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales during World War Two. He was discharged in 1945.

Cyril Bushell died on the 24th January 1955 in Springbank South Australia. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery in South Australia.