DASKEY, Cecil Montague

Cecil’s birth was registered at Inverell in 1897. He was the eighth child and third son of Charles and Ellen Daskey. Cecil, a twenty year old Surveyors Labourer, enlisted at Armidale in May 1916, joining the September 1916 Reinforcements who left Australia on RMS Mooltan in August. He served with the 1st Anzac Battalion Imperial Camel Brigade No 2 Company in Egypt and Palestine.

Private Daskey was killed in action near Gaza on 19 April 1917 and buried at the Jerusalem Memorial, Palestine. Afterwards Private Harold Gilmour wrote to Mrs Daskey saying ‘… Private Daskey was very popular in his company … Our Battalion was nearly wiped out that day and I was lucky to get out of it alive … I was just behind Cyril in the charge when he was killed … I received his silver matchbox with initials on which I am posting to you …’ (Inverell Times newspaper 5 February 1918)

Private Cyril Daskey’s name is inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and Cenotaph.  In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell. His name is also recorded on the Howell Public School Roll of Honour.

Private Daskey’s brother, Charles, also enlisted at Armidale in May 1916, however he was discharged the following month.