Clifford James Eade

Clifford James Eade was born on August 15 1885, at Cudgewa, Victoria. He was the eldest of four living children of James and Mary Jane (nee Anderson) Eade. His namesake, James, had been born in 1893 but died that year. On November 21 1911, Cliff was appointed a probationary teacher, although it is unclear at which school. Visiting inspectors noted that he was a good teacher, although he needed to be firmer with the students. He resigned on May 23 1913.

He enlisted at Wangaratta on March 18 1916. At the time he was single, 20 years old and working as a bank clerk. He was given the Service Number 2061 and placed in the 3rd Reinforcements for the 37th Infantry Battalion. During training, he was in the 4th Depot Battalion and was quickly promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. This rank would only last while he was part of the Depot Battalion.

Cliff embarked on HMAT A9 Shropshire at Melbourne on September 26 1916. Six weeks later he disembarked at Plymouth, England. He marched into the 3rd Training Battalion, A.I.F. at Larkhill, Wiltshire on November 19. Within a week he was promoted to acting Corporal. In early 1917, he was admitted to Tidworth Hospital, although the reason is not clear.

All armies require a substantial administrative branch to function. On May 29 1917, Cliff was transferred from the 37th Battalion to the 17th Brigade Headquarters at Windmill Hill Camp in Wiltshire. Five months later, he was attached for guard duty at the A.I.F. Headquarters at Tidworth. In December of 1917 he was attached for duty with the Commonwealth Bank at Hurdcott, no doubt because of his experiences back in Australia before the war. On July 10 1918, he was promoted to Acting Sergeant.

On February 15 1919, Cliff married Kathleen Waterman at Tooting, London, England. Kathleen’s family had suffered during the war, with her brother, Frank, having been killed in action on November 13 1916 as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company.

The couple returned to Australia aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic, leaving England on September 27 1919. Cliff’s discharge came through on November 11 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal.

Two of Cliff’s cousins also enlisted in the A.I.F. David Eade was 25 and served with the 39th Battalion. He died of wounds in Belgium in October 1917. Richard, David's younger brother, enlisted but was discharged at Broadmeadows Camp as medically unfit.

Upon returning home to Corryong, Cliff continued to work as a bank clerk. On December 22 1919, at Corryong, Cliff and Kathleen's only child, a son, was born. The couple named him Frank Waterman Eade after Kathleen's brother.

It’s unclear where the family lived during the 1920s. The 1930 Electoral Rolls indicate that Cliff, Kathleen and Frank moved to Armidale, NSW, where Cliff gained employment on the railways. In 1935, the family were living at 132 Odell Street, Armidale. However, in 1936, Cliff and Kathleen separated. Kathleen moved to Sydney and found employment as a secretary. After 13 years of living on her own, she decided to return to England. In August of 1950, she boarded the SS Strathmorein Sydney, NSW, and returned to her remaining family in England. She passed away at Wandsworth, Surrey, England, in July 1977.

In 1937, Cliff had moved to 16 Addison Rd in New Lambton, still working on the railways. In 1939, he married Elsie May Noble in Hamilton, NSW. The couple moved to 144 James Street in New Lambton South and lived there until around 1958, when they moved to 37 Bridges Street in New Lambton.

Elsie passed away on March 29 1967, at Hamilton. Cliff passed away at Newcastle, NSW on June 22 1985 and was buried in the Newcastle Memorial Park. Kathleen and Cliff’s son, Frank, passed away in 2003