Cyril St Clair Cameron CB (1857 - 1941)

Ancestors

Biography

Colonel Cyril St Clair Cameron CB was born on 5th December 1857 at Fordon, Nile, Colony of Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania, Australia). He was the second son of Donald Cameron MLC, and Mary Morrison. His paternal grandfather, Donald Cameron, had received a grant of 1,000 acre (400 ha) as an incentive to emigrate. The property became named Fordon after the surgeon's place of birth. Cyril was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School and the University of Edinburgh. ^[1]

Cyril served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 with the 9th Royal Lancers. He was awarded the Afghan Medal and the Bronze Star. After service in India during 1881-85, Cameron returned to England to serve as adjutant of the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry and, later, of the 8th Yeomanry Brigade. ^[1]

On 30th August 1887, in the Parish Church at Bovey Tracey, Devon, Cyril married Margaret Hughes, daughter of General Sir William Hughes. ^[2]

He was promoted to Captain in 1887 and was placed on the reserve list in 1895; at which time the couple returned to Tasmania. ^[1] In 'retirement' Cameron farmed Fordon, which he inherited in 1894. He also spent time at his famous Hobart mansion, Lowestoft.

Cyril commanded the Tasmanian Mounted Infantry in South Africa from November 1899 to November 1900 during the Second Boer War. He arrived home aboard the Harlech Castle. For his astute leadership he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). ^[3] He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with three Clasps.

He was twice wounded during the campaign and was captured but escaped. ^[1]

Cyril represented Tasmania in the Australian Senate 1901-03 and 1907-13. Accused by a fellow Senator of not 'being a politician', Cyril is said to have replied: "I am not a politician, and I do not aspire to be one". He was a parliamentarian and sought a strong Commonwealth defence force, was interested in foreign affairs and supported a strong economy. ^[1] Cyril's older brother, Donald Norman, was a Member of the House of Representatives for Tasmania 1901–03 and a Member of Tasmania's House of Assembly 1904-06.

Throughout his time in the Senate, Cyril continued to serve in the army. As a Lieutenant Colonel he commanded the 26th Light Horse (Militia). He commanded the Australian contingent to the coronation of Edward VII in 1902, served in Somaliland in 1904, and was an aide-de-camp to the Governor General.

At the outbreak of (the First World) War in 1914, he travelled to England and was appointed to Headquarters Imperial Staff. In April 1915, aged 57 years, he was assistant adjutant-general on Sir Ian Hamilton’s staff at the Gallipoli landing, however, ill-health forced his early evacuation. ^[1]

Aged 84 years, Cyril passed away on 22nd December 1941 at Fordon. ^[1] Two of his four sons, Donald and William, and his daughter Margaret, survived him. Donald, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Second World War, was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for gallantry under fire and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Cyril Jnr was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle in 1915, while Ewan died in February 1941.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate: Cyril St Clair Cameron; accessed 17 Jun 2020
2. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Sep qtr 1887, vol 5b, page 195; registered at Newton Abbot
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Cyril St Clair Cameron; accessed 17 Jun 2020

See also

• Cameron, Caroline L. 'Cameron, Cyril St Clair (1857–1941)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1979; accessed online 17 Jun 2020.
• Wikipedia profile: Cyril Cameron; accessed 17 Jun 2020.
• Cyril St Clair Cameron (The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ : accessed 16 Mar 2024)