FINEY, Cecil Lloyd
| Service Number: | 93 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Happy Valley, South Australia, Australia, 31 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Alawoona, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Public School, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer, South Australian Railways |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 July 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ration Farm Military Cemetery, la Chapelle-D'Armentieres Plot VI. Row J. Grave 40. Inscription: FOR GOD AND LIBERTY |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Alawoona & District WW1 Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brighton Arch of Remembrance, Brighton WW1 Roll of Honour, Loxton and District Great War Roll of Honor, Men from Renmark and District Roll of Honor Boards (4), Paruna Browns Well & District Memory of the Fallen Arch Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 93, Depot Battalion , Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Transylvania" | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 93, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed in Action |
Court of Inquiry and Witness Reports per Red Cross records
Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.
Statement, Red Cross File No 1060401, 193 Pte J.J. TILLEY, A Company, 32nd Bn (patient, 2nd Birmingham War Hospital, Hollymoor, England): 'Informant states that on July 19th 1916 at Fromelles near Fleurbaix in No Man's Land between our front trench and the German, Informant saw Finey lying wounded in the stomach. This was the last known of him by Informant who passed on to German trenches.'
Second statement, 31 Pte T.A. ASHTON, 32nd Bn (patient, No 2 General Hospital (Quai), 7 December 1916: 'He was killed being shot through the heart on July 20th in our trenches. Dredge[,] 32nd Australians A Co. who is still with his unit told me this as he was alongside of him when he was killed. The body was recovered and buried at the back of our trenches.'
Third statement, Corporal L.B. MACKIE, A Company, 32nd Bn, 7 February 1917: ' ... we were as brothers, he was about 5ft 10ins more or less in height, fair, weighed about 15 stone and rather a noble looking young fellow, we went over together almost, and half way over he was hit in the stomach or thereabouts just as he was getting up and he fell and rolled over and looked to me as if dead, when I passed him, it was a hot moment for us all, this was on July 19th 1916[,] our fatal day. I could not say what became of him after, but I can and am sure he was quite dead, when last seen.'
Fourth statement, 53 Lance Corporal M.M. BROWN, A Company, 32nd Bn, 7 February 1917: 'In the attack at Fromelles on the date mentioned I saw Finey killed within a few yards of our trench just as we had gone over the parapet. I knew him well.'
Submitted 20 October 2021 by Steve Larkins
Biography
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA: 1913 - 1942) Friday 8 September 1916
PRIVATE CECIL LLOYD FINEY.
Alawoona, September 3.
A heavy cloud of gloom was cast over our little township when it became known that Mr. and Mrs. Finey had received a telegram stating that their eldest son "Cecil" was missing since July 20. What makes this heavier to bear is that some few weeks back Mr. Finey received a wire stating that his other son "Don" had been seriously wounded about the face and arm by a bursting shell, on the same date July 20. Both lads had evidently been in the same engagement. "Don", is in the Stationary Hospital, where he will probably remain for some time before returning to the front. Residents of Alawoona and the surrounding districts all remember "Cecil'', and "Don", as they were happy, fearless, and general favorites with us all.. In times of peace they were foremost in sports, and when our nation called they were among the first to respond. General sympathy is expressed on all sides with Mr. and Mrs. Finey, and the sincere hope is entertainer that though missing Cecil may be only a prisoner.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109217544
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Friday 14 September 1917
HEROES OF THE GREAT WAR.
FINEY.—Killed in action in France, on July 20, 1916, Cecil Lloyd Finey, second son of S. and A. M. Finey, of Alawoona, late of Brighton, aged 21 years. "We have met, and we have missed him."
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5553364
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Friday 14 September 1917
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
FOR KING AND EMPIRE
"Faithful Unto Death."
THE LATE PRIVATE FINEY.
Mr. Stephen Finey, of Alawoona, has been officially notified that his second son, Private Cecil Lloyd Finey (who has been reported missing since July 20, 1916) was killed in action on that date in France. He left for the front on November 15, 1915, having first been to Egypt before going into active service. Previous to enlisting he was working on the Paringa railway-line. Private Finey was a man of fine physique and was well liked by all who knew him. Mr. Finey has another son, who was wounded over twelve months ago, and is still unable to go into active service. He is in England.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5553383
Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA: 1913 - 1942) Friday 21 September 1917
THE LATE PRIVATE C. L. FINEY.
We regret to learn that Mr. S. Finer, Alawoona, has received an official notice that his second son, Pte. Cecil Lloyd Finey, who enlisted in Renmark, was killed in action in France on July 20, 1916. He had been posted as missing since that date up till now, although his parents were informed through the Red Crass Society some months ago as to his fate, but no official notice.
Previous to enlisting, Pte. Finey was employed on the repairing works on the Paringa line for a short time and before that was assisting his father on the farm. He was a man of wonderful physique, and although only 21 years of age he was exceptionally well proportioned. Pte. Finey was well liked for his kind disposition and respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Finey has another son at the front who was wounded over twelve months ago, and when last heard from, he was still unable to go into active service.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109221155
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