100 days of heroes: Carpenter Cyril Luttrell’s fateful decision

CARPENTER Cyril Luttrell was not quite 23 when he joined the 26th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915.

Corporal Cyril Edmund Luttrell is remembered at tree 175 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.

CARPENTER Cyril Luttrell was not quite 23 when he joined the 26th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915.

Born at Sandy Bay in July 1892, he lived with his parents Frederick and Annie Luttrell and his brothers and sister at Proctors Rd, and attended Albuera Street State School.

His forebear Dr Edward Luttrell was appointed Colonial Surgeon at Hobart in 1816.

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Corporal Cyril Luttrell.

Despite having no previous military experience before enlisting, Cyril was rewarded with several promotions and advanced as far as temporary sergeant before reverting to corporal.

He served initially at Gallipoli where he was promoted to corporal. After transferring to France he was made a lance sergeant.

Cyril was ill on several occasions while in France and was twice transferred to an ambulance train.

He was wounded in action with a gunshot to the chest on November 14, 1916. He was treated at the 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen but a bullet had entered his lung and he died of his injuries at 8.30pm on November 21, at 24 years of age.

Cyril was buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, France. His widowed and dependent mother was awarded a fortnightly pension but died in 1919.

Corporal Cyril Edmund Luttrell is remembered at tree number 175 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Walk. His name appears on honour boards at the Albuera St School and the Hobart Town Hall.

Corporal Cyril Luttrell’s plaque on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue