He is remembered
By Marg Powell, Specialist Library Technician, Metadata Services | 28 March 2015
Beach Cemetery also known as Hell Spit was used from the day of the landing on Gallipoli and overlooks the southern point of Anzac Cove. It is here that you can find 391 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated, including Cyril Burdeu. He 22 when he enlisted to serve with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, just two weeks after Australia declared its involvement.
One of Burdeu's tent mates, Mena Camp, Egypt, 1915. OM65-30 Cyril Andrew Burdeu papers and photographs, State Library of Queensland
There is very little on his service record to tell us of his movements, he was promoted to Corporal before he embarked from Melbourne in October 1914 and spent several months in Egypt training before embarking for Lemnos, then Gallipoli.
Unit War Diary, May 1915. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
The Unit War Diary for the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade is an honest record of their landing and records Corporal Burdeu's fate, just two weeks later.
"Corporal Burdeu, C.A. killed by shrapnel while sitting in dug out at 'phone"
We know that the artillery unit landed at Gabe Tepe at 11:30 AM on 26 April 1915, troops, guns and horses went ashore amongst plenty of gun-fire and shelling. The infantry troops already ashore assisted them to drag the guns up the awkward slopes and asked them "why hadn't they come yesterday?"
We are very privileged however, to be able to remember Cyril Burdeu because his brother Clive who also served, donated Cyril's collection of photographs and his service medals to the State Library of Queensland.
Photographs and medals. OM65-30 Cyril Andrew Burdeu papers and photographs, State Library of Queensland
The photographs taken in Egypt and in the trenches of Gallipoli are stunning examples of soldier-photographers who wanted to record their experiences and the mates they served with.
Cyril Burdeau, Egypt, 1915. OM65-30 Cyril Andew Burdeu papers and photographs, State Library of Queensland.
Now preserved for everyone to enjoy and remember, they are available via the Library's OneSearch catalogue.
Cyril Burdeu's grave stone, Beach Cemetery, Canakkale, Turkey
If you visits Beach Cemetery and look for Cyril Andrew Burdeu's plot - I.D.5 and let him know ... he is remembered.
View the collection ...
Read more...
- Edwards, Glen. Corporal Cyril Andrew Burdeu 1000
- War Unit Diary, 5th Battery, Australian Field Artillery. Australian War Memorial
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