Born in February 1894 at Minmi, NSW, Cyril was the 2nd of 4 children to Frederick and Amy (nee Osborn) Akhurst.
Working at the time as a teamster, Cyril enlisted at Newcastle with the 9th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion on the 2nd of August 1915, aged 21 years and 6 months. Cyril’s next of kin was listed as his father of Gloucester.
Cyril boarded the ‘HMAT A8 Argyllshire’ on the 30th of September 1915 from Sydney, which joined convoy 26 bound for Egypt. Shortly after arriving he was hospitalised at the 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Albasian between the 10th of November and the 16th of December 1915 with the mumps. Cyril arrived at Tel el Kebir on the 21st of January 1916 and was taken on strength in the 3rd Battalion.
The 55th Battalion was raised in Egypt on the 12th of February 1916 as part of the “doubling” of the AIF. Half of its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 3rd Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 3rd, the 55th was predominantly composed of men from New South Wales. The battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division. On the 13th of February he was transferred to the 55th Battalion.
Embarking aboard the ‘H.T. Caledonian’ on the 19th of June 1916 at Alexandria, he arrived at Marseilles on the 29th of June. The battalion entered the frontline trenches for the first time on 12th of July and fought its first major battle at Fromelles a week later. The battle was a disaster, resulting in heavy casualties across the division. Although in reserve, the 55th was quickly committed to the attack and eventually played a critical role, forming the rear guard for the 14th Brigade’s withdrawal. Despite its grievous losses the 5th Division continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a further two months.
During a freezing winter manning the trenches in the Somme Valley with the 55th Battalion, Cyril who was now a Lance Corporal, was hospitalised with influenza on the 10th of November at the 14th Field Ambulance, which provided casualty and lifesaving surgery support to the 14th Brigade in the 5th Division (comprising of the 53rd, 54th, 55th and 56th Battalions).
In early 1917 the 55th Battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Cyril was promoted to Corporal on the 24th of April 1917 just prior to the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt, conducted between the 3rd and the 17th of May. The 55th Battalion was spared the initial assault but did however defend gains made during the battle. Of the 7000 Australians lost in the battle, Cyril was ‘Killed in Action’ on the 10th of May 1917 and was buried between Noreuil and Riencourt.
The War Department had some trouble maintaining contact with the family, having moved to 7 Charlton Street, Newcastle West around 1917 and later to Boolaroo, Speers Point on Lake Macquarie.
