Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Colonel Cyril St. Clair Cameron, C.B., and Margaret Cameron, of Fordon, Tasmania; husband of Edith Cameron.

CYRIL CAMERON DEAD
SECOND SON OF COLONEL
CAMERON.
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE.
The sad news has been received that Lieut. Cyril Henry Cameron, son of Colonel Cyril St. Clair and Mrs Cameron, of "Fordon," was killed in aiction in Northern France on Friday last. The tidings were first received by Colonel Cameron, in Egypt, who communicated with Mrs Cameron at "Fordon" by cable, informing them of the death of their son in France. The deceased, who was the second son of Colonel and Mrs Cameron, was only 23 years of age, and was a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery. He was born in Tasmania, but left this State when quite young, and has resided for the greater part of his life in the United Kingdom. He was educated at the great old school of Winchester, one of the most famous of the historic public schools of England.
After leaving Winchester he took up a military career. The late Lieut. Cameron leaves, in addition to his Australian relatives, a widow and a baby daughter. He was married about a year ago. When war broke out, with a readiness characteristic of his race and name, he at once responded to the call of his country, and left for France with Sir John French's First Expeditionary Force. His child was born since war broke out, and about two months ago he obtained leave from the front for a brief visit to his wife and baby daughter, who were  so soon to be bereaved. With the exception of that brief absence he has been at the front ever since the war broke out. The first engagement of the war in which he participated  was the action which culminated in the now historic retreat from Mons. Lieut. Cameron was one of that gallant band of Englishmen whose withdrawal from Mons in the force of  overwhelming odds, which was effected by the exercise of dauntless courage and superb generalship, shed new lustre on the traditions of the British race. It is surmised that  Lieut. Cameron met his death at the battle of Neuve Chapelle, near La Bassee, Northern France, wbich resulted in a notable victory for the British. It is significant that the British  artillery played a prominent part in this battle, which seems to have been one of the fiercest of the French campaign, and established a striking superiority over the German fire.  The slaughter was horrific, and when the despatches giving particulars are received it will probably be found that some of the most striking incidents of the war occurred at Neuve  Chapelle. A British officer states that 350 guns at Neuve Chapelle were firing as fast as possible. The German trenches seemed afire under an unbroken line of bursting shells. The entanglements were blown beyond the trenches, which were reduced to pulp of the earth. Boards and wire equipmemt were intermingled with the German dead in the  foremost trenches, only 150 yards from the British, who were petrified while they waited to charge. There is every reason to believe that Lieut. Cameron was one of the 54 British  officers who were killed in this engagement. To have witnessed and participated in the magnificent exploits of the British artillery on that occasion was as glorious an end as he  himself would have wished for. Since the outbreak of war no less than four members of the "Fordon" family have offered their services to the Empire and one of them has already  died for his country. The eldest son, Lieut. Donald Cameron, of the Cameron Highlanders, also crossed the Straits of Dover with the first British Expeditionary Force, and was  wounded in the fighting near Ypres. He was invalided back to England, and his name appeared in the first list of recipients of the Military Cross, in recognition of his gallantry  under fire. The Military Cross is a new decoration, created since the war for officers and warrant officers of the British military forces, awarded by the King on recommendation  from the principal Secretary of State for War. The Military Cross is to be worn immediately after all orders and before all decorations and medals (the Victoria Cross alone  excepted). Colonel Cameron, the father of these gallant sons, is himself a soldier of distinction. He served in the Afghan war in the early 80's, and also in the Boer war, in which  he was twice wounded, and was mentioned in despatches for his services. He is at present the holder of an important position on the staff of Sir Henry Birdwood, Commander of  the British forces in Egypt. His youngest son, Lieut. Ewan Cameron, is also in Egypt. Tasmanians will deeply regret to hear of the death of Colonel Cameron's gallant son, who,  with his brother, in far-off France have been winning honor for their native country and fresh lustre for the name of Cameron, with which is associated so many glorious traditions.  Tasmanians will deeply condole with the relatives of the brave young soldier who has died a patriot's death upon the blood-soaked soil of France. Their hearts will go  out in sympathy to the bereaved father and brothers across the seas.