People Australia

Cecil St. Leger Lousada, n.d., unknown photographer

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

CECIL ST. LEGER LOUSADA was born at Warragul, Victoria, on 6th January, 1897, the son of Mr. Edward Charles Lousada and Mrs. Isabel Beatrice Halliburton Lousada. He was educated in the State Schools at Calligace, Mountain View and Toora, Victoria. He joined the staff of the Bank on 18th September, 1913, at Fitzroy Branch, Victoria, and was transferred in January, 1915, to Elmore.

Cecil Lousada enlisted about the beginning of May, 1915, as a private in the 24th Battalion. He was on active service for five months on Gallipoli, and was one of the last few men to leave on the evacuation. Proceeding to France he won notice for his bravery and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The “London Gazette” of 20th October, 1916, states that the award was for—

“Conspicuous gallantry and devotion in volunteering to carry water across open ground and through an extremely heavy barrage of artillery fire to severely wounded men. Later he displayed great bravery as a stretcher-bearer, exhibiting a fine example of endurance and soldierly spirit.”

He was promoted to corporal in September, 1917, and in the following March joined the 114th Battery of Field Artillery as gunner, prior to being sent to the Training School for Officers in England.

Early in April, 1918, he was badly wounded by the premature bursting of a howitzer shell, due so far as could be ascertained, to a defect in the material. He gradually sank and died a few days afterwards (11th April) at the Casualty Clearing Station. In June the Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Gunner Lousada for conspicuous services rendered in France. In writing to his father, Captain Mcllroy, late officer commanding the company in which Private Lousada acted as runner for him, stated that he had been impressed by his excellent work and bravery. He had found him always willing, keenly intelligent, and polite, and was very reluctant to sanction his transfer to the artillery.

Brigadier-General Bessel-Browne also wrote about the valuable confidential service rendered by Cecil Lousada when on his staff, and was confident that if he had lived he would have obtained his commission and proved a very valuable officer.