Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Chronicle (Adelaide, SA: 1895 - 1954) Saturday 19 October 1918

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS.

DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

Sapper CYRIL E. RUSHTON, who was killed in action in France of August 31, at the age of 22 year 4 months, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Rushton, of Goodwood-road, Wayville. He enlisted In May, 1917, and was attached to the 16th reinforcements of the 5th Divisional Signalling Company. He left in August by way of Sydney for England, where he spent several months attached to signalling training schools. He left with the 2nd Divisional Signalling Company for France, where he was continuous on service till his death. He attended the Goodwood public school, and after wards went to Prince Alfred College. At the time of enlisting he was in the employ of the Railway Department.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87549746

Contributed by Prince Alfred College

On the 28th of April 1896 in Goodwood, Adelaide in the humble home of Edwin and Elizabeth Rushton, the third child and first son of the Rushton family, Cyril Edward Rushton was born. Mr and Mrs Rushton would have two more children, although unfortunately lost their infant son Mervyn only a few months after birth, preventing them from having any more children. Cyril would grow up with his two older sisters and younger brother and attended Goodwood Primary School until his 14th birthday when he was enrolled at Prince Alfred College to complete his education under headmaster Frederic Chapple. After graduating Cyril would seek out a job at the railway company having found he was more than skilled in hands on work.

In early May 1917 Cyril enlisted attached to the 16th Reinforcements, 5th Divisional Signalling Company and departed for Sydney in August, aged 21. Within the month Cyril Rushton would arrive at the heart of the empire he fought for on board the HMAT Anchises A68 one of the most modern passenger and cargo ships of its time. According to the Advertiser, “He spent several months attached to signalling training schools” (The Advertiser, 1918), in preparation to become a Sapper. The Australian War Memorial describes Cyril and his comrades, “Engineers, also known as sappers, were essential to the running of the war…their responsibilities included constructing the lines defence, temporary bridges, tunnels and trenches” and any other mechanical problem that should arise amongst the Allied trenches

It wasn’t long until Cyril was watching Britain fade out of view and he arrived in France to finally join the fight against the Austro-Hungarian and German armies now as a part of the 2nd divisional signalling company. Deployed along the Somme river, where fights had been raging with bloodshed for some time, Cyril was put to work immediately. His skills with his hands were displayed time and again as he ran up and down the line trying to brace dugouts and trench alike from caving in. Cyril valiantly expended every ounce of his being into protecting those around him. As the German line began to weaken, the Allied forces gathered to break through.

Cyril and his fellow Sappers were sent to prepare the bridge over the river at Mont Saint-Quentin, a “perfect observation point and vital strategic area” (Australian War Memorial), ready for the infantry to cross In the final charge as bullets rained, on the 31st of August 1918, aged 22, Cyril Edwin Rushton’s life was cut short just two and a half months before the war was to end, shot serving his country. His gallant nature would be recognised with the British War Medal and Victory medal, as his fellow sappers and brothers in arms defeated the German army at the Somme. Few remember the sacrifice of such men, and Cyril would be buried at Hem Farm Military Cemetery in Hem Monacu, France, far from his home and far from his family.  

Time passed and just as the Rushton name was beginning to fade from the pages of history, Cyril’s old school Prince Alfred College would begin the formation of a tradition known as the Rushton Cup, a football match between boarders and dayboys, as well as a new school house to incorporate the many boarders of the school. Rushton house was the final legacy of Sap. Cyril Edwin Rushton.

Rest In Peace Cyril E. Rushton 1896-1918.

Reference List

Books:
 

Pac Chronicle (no date) Prince Alfred College. Available at: https://pac.edu.au/news- events/publications/pac-chronicle/ (Accessed: 21 May 2023).

Websites:

Acknowledgement of traditional custodians (no date) Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/honour-rolls (Accessed: February 16, 2023).

Australian soldiers. - died for their country. - the advertiser (adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) - 14 oct 1918 (no date) Trove. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5598672?searchTerm=cyril+E+rushton (Accessed: 22 April 2023).

Australian soldiers. - died for their country. the late major Johnson. A distinguished South Australian. - chronicle (adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) - 19 oct 1918 (no date) Trove. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87549746?searchTerm=cyril+rushton (Accessed: April 28, 2023).

Cwgc (no date) The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, CWGC. Available at: https://www.cwgc.org/ (Accessed: 17 May 2023).

Cyril Edwin Rushton (2021) WikiTree. Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rushton-1110 (Accessed: February 17, 2023).

Cyril Edward Rushton (no date) Virtual War Memorial | Cyril Edward RUSHTON. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/75128 (Accessed: February 16, 2023).

Homepage: Department of Veterans’ Affairs (no date) Homepage | Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Available at: https://www.dva.gov.au/ (Accessed: 14 May 2023).

Main page (no date) Our Contribution. Available at: https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/Main_Page (Accessed: March 5, 2023).

State Library of South Australia. (no date) Available at: https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/home (Accessed: March 16, 2023).