Joe was born in Stuart Town, NSW on 8 February 1905, the eldest son of Edward Frederick and Mary Jane Dutfield. His brothers were Edward and William, and his sisters were Thelma, Hope and Mary.
Apart from a short period of time at Gunnedah, he was educated in Stuart Town and on leaving school, he joined the NSW Government Railways rising to the position of Station Master.
He worked in many NSW towns including Stuart Town, Geurie, Warren, Werris Creek, Walgett, Wellington, Quipolly and Cryon. Many of these stations no longer exist.
While he was working in Warren, he met and married Edna Josephine Perry. His pet name for her was ‘Ted’. Cyril and ‘Ted’ spent much of their married life in various NSW country towns according to Cyril’s various transfers as Assistant Station Master.
He was a real home man, he loved his family and his garden. He was also a great sportsman, loved his cricket and tennis as did his wife ‘Ted’. They used to play in country clubs in the towns where Cyril was stationed. They had two daughters, Nola and Margaret.
They were living in Ingleburn when he enlisted in the Army. The day he enlisted he told ‘Ted’ to sit down, he had something to tell her, and deep down, she knew what he was going to say.
He enlisted on 22 July 1940 at Paddington, NSW and did his initial training at Inglebum and was later transferred to the 2/12 Field Ambulance Unit of the 8th Australian Division at Cowra, NSW. After completing further training at Cowra, his unit was transferred to Darwin in May 1941. It was intended that the Unit would serve in Java. However, before they could sail, their designated Hospital Ship “Manunda” was badly damaged in one of the first air raids on Darwin. The Unit was subsequently transferred to the eastern States for deployment to New Guinea. From Cowra, the Unit joined the ill-fated Hospital Ship Centaur.
from his daughter, Nola Delaney (from May 2002 edition of the newsletter).
My father Cyril Clyde Dutfield was born and educated in Stuart Town in the Central West of NSW. He was the son of Frederick and Mary Jane Dutfield and had two brothers, William and Edward, and three sisters Thelma, Mary and Hope. He left school at 15 years of age and joined the Railway. He worked in many NSW towns, including Stuart· Town, Geurle, Warren, Werris Creek, Walget, Wellington, Quipolly, and Cryon. Many of these stations no longer exist.
While he was working in Warren, he met and married Edna Josephine Perry. His pet name for her was ‘Ted’. Cyril and ‘Ted’ spent much of their married life in many NSW country towns according to Cyril’s various transfers as Assistant Station Manager.
Cyril was a real home man, he loved his family and his garden. He was also a great sportsman, loved his cricket and tennis as did his wife ‘Ted’. They used to play in country c!ubs in the towns where Cyril was stationed.
When l was 10 years old he was posted to lngleburn as Station Master, and here my sister, Margaret was born.
He enlisted in the Army from lngleburn. The day he enlisted, he told ‘Ted’ to sit down, he had something to tell her, and deep down, she knew what he was going to say.
He was first appointed to AHS Manunda, but when one of his mates took ill, he was transferred to the Centaur.
‘Ted’ was a friend of Sister Ellen Savage who told her how the ship was torpedoed and where everyone was positioned on board. Ellen told ‘Ted’ that one of the nurses was turning 21 and they had been preparing a party for her. When the torpedo struck, the ship split in half and sank so quickly no one had a chance to do anything.
Cyril’s life is commemorated at the Sydney Memorial located in the War Cemetery at Rookwood 17 kms west of Sydney. He was 38 years old, a loving husband and father.