IRELAND, Cecil Jesse
| Service Number: | 2926 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 February 1917, Place of enlistment - Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 14th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, 18 January 1899 |
| Home Town: | Drummoyne, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Grammar School, The Geelong College |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | North Sydney, Sydney New South Wales, 18 November 1963, aged 64 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour |
Biography contributed by Daryl Jones
IRELAND, Cecil Jesse (1899-1963)
Cecil Jesse Ireland was born on 18 January 1899, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Sarah Ireland. He was enrolled as a boarder in Form VC at Geelong College on 13 March 1915 by Mrs E S Ireland and had previously attended Sydney Grammar School. His address at entry was given as 88 St George's Crescent, Drummoyne, Sydney. He left in December 1916 (Upper V). In 1915 and 1916 he was a Company Sergeant-Major of the College Cadet Corps.
During World War I, Cecil Ireland enlisted (No 2926) at age 18 in the AIF on 16 February 1917. He embarked with the Camel Corps General Reinforcements on HMAT A42 Boorara on 10 May 1917 for Egypt and Palestine, serving with D Company, 1st Anzac Battalion, Camel Brigade, then transferred to 14th Light Horse when the Camel Corps was disbanded. He served in Palestine until war’s end, being promoted Lance Corporal on 28 October 1917, and Corporal on 13 January 1919.
'The 14th Light Horse Regiment was formed in Palestine in June 1918 from members of the Australian companies of the Imperial Camel Corps. The ICC had been disbanded because camel-mounted troops, a valuable addition to the British forces in the deserts of Egypt and the Sinai, were not suitable for the conditions being encountered in Palestine. Although many former light horse troopers were to be found in the ranks of the ICC, large numbers had also been recruited from infantry battalions and so several months of training were needed before the 14th was fit to commence operations as a horse-mounted regiment.
The new regiment, along with another regiment of former cameleers – the 15th – and a regiment of French colonial cavalry, formed the 5th Light Horse Brigade, which became part of the Australian Mounted Division. The 5th Light Horse Brigade fought in only one major operation – the great offensive launched by the battle of Megiddo on 19 September 1918.
On this morning British infantry opened a gap in the Turkish front to the north of Jaffa, allowing mounted forces to penetrate deep into their rear areas, severing roads, railways and communications links. In ensuing days the Turkish front collapsed and as the Turks retreated into Syria they were harried by mounted troops, supported by aircraft, in close pursuit. In ten days from 19 September, the 5th Light Horse Brigade advanced over 390 miles. The Brigade entered Damascus on 1 October 1918, and carried out mopping up and garrison tasks in the vicinity of Damascus for most of October. The Brigade was moving forward to join the drive on Aleppo when Turkey surrendered on 30 October.
While waiting to embark for home, the 14th Light Horse were called back to operational duty to quell the Egyptian revolt that erupted in March 1919; order was restored in little over a month. The men of the 14th Light Horse sailed for home without their horses on 24 July 1919, which had either been shot or transferred to Indian cavalry units. As a successor to the ICC, the 14th Light Horse inherited its battle honours.'
Cecil Ireland returned to Australia on HMT Dongola, embarking on 24 July 1919. He died at North Sydney on 18 November 1963.
Source : The Geelong College - https://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au/wiki/IRELAND-Cecil-Jesse-1899.ashx?HL=ireland