Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cecil George Eather was the elder of two sons born on the  26 April 1893 at Windsor, New South Wales.

Cecil's father was George William Eather  1875-1961 the son of Thomas EATHER 1828-1916 and his second wife Caroline Margaret MacKellar 1847-1915. Thomas EATHER had lost his first wife and family in the Hawkesbury floods of 1867.

Cecil's mother was Maria, nee Holland 1864-1943. was one of nine children born at Windsor to John HOLLAND 1817-1897 and Louisa DOLLEY 1825-1900.

Cecil was charged with the murder of chinese market gardener Chun Foon. at North Parramatta, on the 16 March 1913. He and some other young men were trapping birds and shooting rabbits, near the market gardener's property when they were confronted by Chun Foon and accused of stealing his tomatoes. The boys ran, with Chun Foon giving chase, weilding a hoe. Eather turned and fired two shots hitting the chinaman in the chest.

In June at the Parramatta court befor Mr. Justice Pring and Jury, Cecil was found Not Guilty and discharged. 

On 24 November 1914 Curly joined up.

He embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Seang Choon (A49) on 11 February 1915. He died at sea on 8 May 1915 aboard the SS Lutzow from wounds received in action at Gallipoli, Turkey, aged 22. He has no known grave and is remembered with honour on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey

"Mrs. Eather, of Church Hill, Windsor, received the following letters concerning the death of her son Cecil ('Curly'), who died of wounds received while fighting the Turks : "H.M.S. London, May 10., Dear Madam, You will have heard before you receive this of the death of your son, C.G. Eather, hero in the Dardanelles. You will perhaps like to know he was buried at sea, some three miles north of the Gallipoli Peninsula, to gether with several other brave men who had given their lives for their country. We read the burial service over, them, and the scene was as reverent and peaceful, I think, as you could have wished. You will, I am afraid, be feeling his loss very keen ly; but I hope it will be some consolation to you that he died doing his duty, and there are few men , who will not envy him the manner of his death. We are full of admira- tion for the work being done by the Aus tralian troops, and if the price paid is heavy, the honor is correspondingly great. With much sympathy, Yours, very truly, ALFRED. W: ROSE, Chaplain R.N."

"Quartermaster Sergeant Don Fegan writes 'Curly' Eather's mother particulars of his illness: " I regret to have to inform you that Cess was seriously wounded the other day, and is in a very critical condition at present. I stayed with him all night until I had to go on duty. He was conscious for about five minutes after he was wounded and held my hand until he lost conscious ness. He mentioned your name continually, and I promised I would write to you and ex plain everything if I pulled through and he didn't. I know that this will be hard for you, as it has been for me ; but I can take some consolation from the thought that he went down gamely and gloriously, a true, clean, gallant Australian, and one of the bravest. Though young in years he , has shown the spirit and heroism of a veteran, and I am proud that he has fought side by side with me. He was smiling when he became unconscious, and was quite free from pain. The bullet went into the side of his head, though the wound could hardly be seen. I will write again l as soon as I hear any news. You must bear up bravely. Remember that you gave him to his country, and that you, as well as Cecil, have played your part in this great fight for justice and our country's right. Try to let that thought comfort you in this time of trouble and sorrow. I can feel with you, for you know what Cess was to me. God bless you and comfort you. Your sincere friend, DON FEGAN." - from the Windsor and Richmond Gazette 30 Jul 1915 (nla.gov.au)