Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cyril Henwood Fidock was born on the 12th of May 1898, in Caltowie. As a boy Cyril had brown hair and blue eyes. Cyril grew up in a small little house in Glandore, Marion, SA with his two older brothers and his mother Martha Fidock. Cyril’s older brother George Leslie Fidock was born in 1896.

World War I

When Cyril was 18 years and 1 month old, he decided that he wanted to do a good thing for his country so he decided to enlist for World War l, in Woodside, Adelaide on the 19th of June,1916. His older brother George Leslie Fidock also enlisted on the same day. Cyril had to get a parent to sign the permission form to go to war because he was under the age of 21 years. Cyril and George were only 3 years apart. On the 23rd of November 1916, Cyril Henwood Fidock embarked on the Hororaia, in Melbourne to go to war with his older brother George.

Cyril served the country for a total of 2 years and 344 days in the First and Second AIF. He was a Driver in World War l. Cyril survived the First World War. He disembarked on the 23rd of January. On the 12th of April 1919, he returned to Australia. He was later discharged on the 28th of May. He also did 2 years of cadets prior to his enlistment. Cyril played suburban amateur football for Glenelg.

After the war Cyril met a girl in Adelaide called Margaret Stevens. On the 24th of February 1923, Margaret and Cyril got married at the Congregational Church in Adelaide, Glenelg. A son was born to them on 11 June 1925. A second son, Richard Henwood Fidock, was born on 15 May 1929.

On March 11th, 1937, Edward George Tim’s claimed £260 from Cyril Henwood Fidock, as damages from bone injuries. This was the result of a collision with Edwards bicycle and Cyril’s motorcycle at the intersection of Angus and William streets, Adelaide. Tim stated that he was thrown to the ground and a sustained fractured nose, lacerated mouth, and injuries to his chin, neck, head and one of his thighs. Mr Tim was awarded more than £80.

World War II

By the 1930s, Cyril had re-entered the army, gaining a commission as Lieutenant in 27th Battalion of the Militia in 1932. By 1939 he was a Captain, brigade machine gun officer for the 3rd Brigade. However, this was only a part-time role; his main job was with the railways. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he enlisted in the new 2nd AIF as a Major in the 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion. On 18th December 1939 he transferred to the 2nd/1st Machine Gun Battalion and went with them to Britain and then the Middle East. He took part in the ill-fated Greek campaign. In November 1941 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Battalion, a position he held until August 1944. At that point he was discharged from service. Under Cyril's command, the 2nd/1st Machine Gun Battalion fought in New Guinea in 1943 and early 1944.

In later life Cyril was active in local politics, serving as Mayor of Glenelg between 1950 and 1953.

Cyril's two children were Dean Henwood Fidock (born and 11 June 1925) and Richard Henwood Fidock (born in 1929). Dean passed away at the age of 92, on 24 September 2017, in North Adelaide, South Australia. Dean married Joan Frazer and had three children: Sarah (born 16 August 1958, in England), Stephan (born 05 September 1959, in Paris) and David (born 08 December 1965, in Paris). David lives in New York with his wife and 4 children.