Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric Terrell enlisted for the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on the 11th February 1916 in Adelaide. His Regimental number was 14522 and he joined the 14th Company of Field Engineers, for the term of the war. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Terrell and they were living at Largs Bay when Eric enlisted but moved to Cherry Gardens in 1916. Eric had just turned 20 years of age when he enlisted and was a brown-haired, blue-eyed young man with a “fresh” complexion whose occupation was a carpenter. He was just under 5ft 4ins tall and weighed 120lbs. Because of his age Eric’s Father had to write and give permission for Eric to enlist. On his medical history it was noted that Eric had good eyesight and just the one vaccination scar on his left arm. His teeth were in good condition with just one cavity that needed filling. Eric’s religious denomination was Wesleyan. Eric embarked for the war on 11th July 1916 on the Vestalia out of Sydney arriving in Plymouth, England, on 9th  eptember 1916. He remained in England until the 27th January 1917 when he proceeded overseas to France on the S.S. Princess Victoria disembarking at Estaples. He was taken on strength on the 11th February 1917 and was sent to the front and spent the rest of his time in France. He was promoted to Lieutenant Corporal on the 6th October 1917 while in the field. He had some leave in England during February 1918 and then returned to France a couple of weeks later. Eric had prepared his last will and testament on 4th June 1917 naming his mother as sole benefactor. He was admitted to the 5th General Hospital on 25th September 1918 with Myalgia, being muscle pain that can be a result of over use of muscles or the result of a viral infection. He was discharged a week later and went back to his unit but on the 17th October 1918 he was readmitted to the 3rd Army General Hospital in Abbeyville, France, with Bronchial Pneumonia. He died from this illness (or from Spanish Flu as his family  was told) on 29th October 1918 just 12 days before the armistice was declared and peace came to France. Eric had been in serving in France for just over two and half years. Eric’s only personal effects were a leather wallet, post cards, some photos, a YMCA wallet, Xmas cards, a note book, a badge, a pair of scissors, 2 devotional books and 75 cents and these were returned to his parents back in Australia. Eric is buried in France at the Abbeyville Communal Cemetery Extension Plot 4, Row K, Grave 23. On the headstone is the inscription “The Lord Gave and The Lord Hath Taken Away.
Eric’s older brother, Frederick Leopold Terrell, also fought during WW1. He was already in the navy when war was declared and he was sent to Gallipoli. Frederick kept diaries during the war and wrote a number of letters and notes that are now kept at the Mortlock Library in Adelaide. 

https://www.cherrychatter.org.au/Fallen%20Heroes%20of%20Cherry%20Gardens.pdf

Son of Fredrick John TERRELL and Elizabeth Lewis BAILS