Cyril GALE

GALE, Cyril

Service Numbers: SX15002, S2922
Enlisted: 28 October 1941, Wayville, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
Born: Rose Park, SA, 19 September 1922
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: 10 August 1996, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
RSL Walls
Memorials:
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

28 Oct 1941: Involvement Private, SX15002
28 Oct 1941: Involvement Private, S2922
28 Oct 1941: Enlisted Wayville, SA
28 Oct 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX15002, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
7 Nov 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX15002, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
7 Nov 1945: Discharged
Date unknown: Involvement 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion

In his father’s footsteps, 48th Battalion

Allan William and Jane Emily Gale had four children, two daughters Thelma and Sylvia and two sons, Leonard and Cyril. Allan had been Private 6841 in WWI, serving with the 48th Battalion. Cyril was born on 19th September, 1922 in Rose Park, Adelaide. As a 13-year-old, Cyril and a group of other youngsters gained their qualifications in St John Ambulance First Aid in exams held at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Headquarters over two days in November, ’35. Several years later, as an 18-year-old, Cyril, who was a bit of a ‘lad’ received a fine of £1, with 10/ costs for having behaved offensively In Hurtle square, city, on April 29, ’41.
However, he was still keen to do his duty, becoming part of the militia as Private S2922 at the Loveday POW Internment Camp (Called Number 9 Internment Camp) over July and August of ’41. However, by September, following a period of leave he then abrogated his duty as a guard, being charged with leaving his post and was consequently given extra guard duty as well as a fine.
Finally, aged 19 and distinctively heavily tattooed, Cyril enlisted for active service in AIF to become SX15002 on the 27 October 1941, following in the footsteps of his older brother Len By Feb 42 he was training in Victoria where he was allocated to Machine Gun Reinforcements. Almost immediately Cyril went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) in Feb and again in May. Consequently, a court of enquiry was held in April for his non-attendance at Parade and conduct prejudice to good order and military discipline. Detention and loss of pay resulted and Cyril was transferred to the 33rd Infantry Training Battalion however more episodes of him going AWOL occurred in July 42 before he heading to Sydney and embarked for overseas service to serve in the Middle East in August 42. With a shore break in Freemantle, Western Australian, Cyril decided on his own adventure on shore and was again in trouble for being AWOL.
Finally arriving in the Middle East, a series of health issues caused Cyril to be hospitalised with Vincent’s Gingivitis (commonly known as ‘trench mouth’ a painful infection of the tooth and gums), then tonsillitis and Granular Pharyngitis, (a chronic and often reoccurring throat infection).
By December 42 Cyril was Court Martialled at Nuseirat and found guilty of leaving his sentinel post, insubordinate language to a superior, and inevitably, being AWOL (again) while under arrest resulting in a lengthy detention. At that stage he was with the 2/43 Battalion. Initially his sentence was suspended but this was revoked. This became a quite tumultuous time for Cyril with a series of charges, fines, forfeitures of over a year’s pay and lengthy suspensions from duty. Service was certainly not as Cyril had anticipated. Respite occurred in December ‘43 when Cyril embarked on the ‘Pennant’ from Townsville.
He joined the 2/9 Battalion in Lae but soon after, contracted malaria as did so many of his fellow soldiers. and was briefly hospitalised before returning after a week to his unit. Cyril finally left Lae on the ‘Duntroon’, returning to Townsville. His previous escapades had cost him significant forfeiture of pay.
While briefly back in SA, on the 25th March 44 Cyril proposed to Doreen Sarah Duell. This was a double engagement celebrated with his brother Leonard, (who was serving with the 2/48th ) proposing to Sheila May Stone.
Cyril wasted no time in formalising his proposal, marrying Doreen Sarah on the 14th June 1944. Unfortunately, ill health continued to plague him as he was again hospitalised with Malaria in July in Queensland. After that bout of infection he re-joined the 2/9 but was diagnosed with traumatic Synovitis of his finger, an inflammation of the joint. With the 2/48th battalion being heavily depleted during the conflict in the Middle East, Cyril was transferred to that Battalion where his older brother Len was serving. This included training in Queensland before travelling on the ‘Sea Cat’ to Morotai to serve at Tarakan.
In a cruel twist of fate, his time serving with Len was cut short with Len’s death, killed in action during the landing at Tarakan on May 1 1945, just days prior to Len’s 25th birthday. Despite the beach head being well established and his battalion dug in for the night, spasmodic firing from an enemy 75 mm battery continued until midnight, killing Len and wounding several others.
By June, Cyril was detached to the 2/10 Aust Docks but again ill health, this time with uncomfortable haemorrhoids, causing him to be evacuated. He eventually returned to the 2/48th Battalion in June ’45 at Tarakan, before finally being discharged in November of that year. Cyril had earned the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star War Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Cyril and his new wife, Doreen continued to remember and pay tribute to Len. When their first child, a son was born in 1947, he was named in honour of his uncle, Leonard Raymond Gale, SX8386.
Advertiser Monday 14 May 1945, GALE. —In loving and proud memory of Len, who paid the supreme sacrifice on May 1, 1945, at Borneo. Too far away your grave to see, but not too far to think of thee. —Ever remembered, by brother Cyril and sister-in-law Doreen.
Advertiser Wednesday 1 May 1946, GALE. —In proud and loving memory of Len who was killed at Tarakan May 1 1945. Things have changed in many ways, but one thing changes never, the memory of happy days, when we were all together. Inserted by loving brother, Cyril (ex AIF), sister-in-law Doreen.
Advertiser Thursday 1 May 1947, GALE. —In proud and loving memory of our dear brother and brother-in-law Len, killed in action on May 1, 1945. at the landing on Tarakan. There's a face that is always with us. There's a voice we would love to hear. There's a smile we will always remember. And a memory so precious and dear. —Ever remembered and sadly missed by Cyril, Doreen and baby Len.
Advertiser Monday 2 May 1949, GALE. —In loving memory of my dear brother Len-k.i.a. Tarakan May 1 1945. In a soldier's grave in a foreign land Lies one we held so dear. A smiling face that didn't come home When they sounded the last all clear. He is sleeping with his comrades. In a hallowed grave unknown But his name is in golden letters In the hearts of those at home. —Ever remembered by Cyril and Doreen.
Cyril’s father, Allan died 13 years after Len on the 4th May 1958, aged 59. He and Jane are both buried at Centennial Park, Pasadena.
Cyril died on the 10th August 1996 aged 73. He is also commemorated at Centennial Park in the RSL Wall 129 Niche D012
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.

Read more...
Showing 1 of 1 story