Parry, Cyril Strahan (Lieutenant Colonel, b.1892 - d.1947)

Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Cyril Strahan Parry, Australian Army Pay Corps, Gallipoli 1914 - 1916. Tasmanian-born Cyril Strahan Parry enlisted in the AIF in September 1914 aged 21. A civil servant, Parry served in the 1st Australian Army Pay Corps.

The collection consists of a single diary; inside the front cover is a cloth colour patch for Headquarters 1 Australian Division, AIF; a black square with a white square superimposed in the centre. The diary begins in August 1914 in Hobart, where Parry is working at Anglesea Barracks. He proceeds to Broadmeadows camp on 24 September, and embarks for war on troopship "Orvieto" on 21 October. He records the convoy sequence in which Orvieto sailed, and its four escorts including the Ibuki and HMAS Sydney. Parry writes of the Sydney's encounter with German cruiser SMS Emden; indeed the Orvieto sails past North Keeling as Emden is beached and done for on the other side of the island. He also includes a diagram of this battle sequence and a more detailed account at the back of the diary. Parry is sailing on the same ship as CEW Bean, and attends a lecture on deck given by Bean titled 'The First Australian Naval Victory'.

Having arrived in Cairo, Parry records his perception of the Egyptian people, tourist sites and meeting his younger brother Athol; Athol Wynne Parry had enlisted less than two weeks after his brother. The two meet often until Athol's departure for Gallipoli. Cyril Parry lives at York House rather than Mean Camp; he observes the official ceremony of the declaration of the British Protectorate of Egypt; he spends time on duty at Alexandria paying troops arriving on transport ships. Parry is fascinated with Egypt; its' ancient structures, people and culture. Parry records the wounded pouring into Egypt from the Gallipoli campaign - he meets them in his capacity as cashier to deliver their pay, often carrying large amounts of cash 'a very ticklish job to hump it up the gangway considering it is a great weight and worth such a fortune.' Some weeks after the fact, Parry is informed of Athol's death - shot in the chest by a sniper at Gaba Tepe just two weeks after arriving. Months later he receives Athol's pay book (with bullet hole) and his other personal effects. Parry continues diary entries about Egypt; buying curios, receiving mail; commenting on skirmishes at the Suez canal; meeting fellow Tasmanians; going between Cairo and meeting troopships in Alexandria. Parry meets his uncle 1072 Corporal Alfred Briggs and a cousin, 'Len' who are working at No 1 Remount Unit. In February 1916 he receives a photograph of his brother Athol's grave on Gallipoli, and Parry has also copied in letters he receives in response to enquiries made after his brother.

On 27th March 1916 Parry is appointed Field Cashier of the 5th Division and is posted to Ismailia. His duties are requisitioning cash, counting it and paying the troops. The diary ends 29th May 1916.

In June 1916 Parry is appointed Field Cashier with the 5th Australian Division in France. He serves on the Western Front for a year before returning to Australian Headquarters Egypt. Here Parry again assumes the duties of Field Cashier of the Anzac Mounted Division. He returns to Australia in late 1918. Between the wars Parry was a permanent Commonwealth Public Servant of the Department of Army and, as T47 Lieutenant Colonel in the District Accounts Office Tasmania, served five years of the Second World War.

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Diary of Cyril Strahan Parry