This is a tale of blighted expectations, told by Rod Martin.
Cyril and his older sister, Mabel Mona (b. 1891), about 1900
(Rodd Johnson/Greg Kaighin)
Cyril was working as a clerk at the GPO in Melbourne when he decided to enlist in 1918. Things did not go well for him from that time. See Rod's story here.
Cyril is commemorated on the GPO Roll of Honour "To the Glorious Dead".
Poor Cyril. Struck down before he could really bloom.
ReplyDeleteAnd what of the M. Stray, author of the In Memoriam a year after Cyril's death? A girlfriend perhaps? An army pal?
At this point my best guess is Amelia May Stray of Moonee Ponds, who was 25 to his 18. My guess would be Sunday School teacher, if she was known as May. (Or Millie?) I have sent out appropriate enquiries, though the chances of an Ancestry response are fairly low, as you no doubt know.
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