Military History

Cecil is listed as being killed in action on 9th April 1917 during the attack on, and capture of, Vimy Ridge. The 15th Battalion war diary entry for the 9th is transcribed below.

Neuville St. Vaast – 9 Apr 1917: Battalion HQ established at Chepstow Dug Out map ref Rolincourt 51B.NW (A.3.c cen). The task allocated to 13^th Infantry Brigade is briefly as follows:-

The 1/R W Kent Reg on the right and the 2/K.O.S.B on the left are detailed to attacked with 15/R War R in support and 14/R War R in reserve and finding carrying parties. Further in the event of the 5^th Canadian Brigade requiring assistance to reach the second or Red objective – the enemy line running from S.29.a to A.5.d the 15/R War R are detailed to assist.

In the event of the Red objective being gained without assistance the 15/R War R are detailed to move up to the Lille Road and consolidate the position. Zero hour is fixed for 5.30am today.

From midnight 8/9^th intil 5.30am there was very little artillery fire from both sides as the element of surprise was to play an important part, but promptly at Zero hour a tremendous concentration of artillery fire burst out from our guns. The bombardment opened on the enemy front line and the barrage moved forward by bounds of 100 yards each 5 minutes with longer pauses occasionally to enable certain objectives to be reached.

He attacking battalions reached their 1^st & 2^nd objectives and at 7.45am the 15/R War R moved forward in artillery formation to the forward assembly area in Paynesley and Watling Street. Battalion HQ moving forward to Sapper Dugout no 2. The ground was deep and holding and had been so completed transfigured and broken by the artillery fire that progress in strict accordance with the pre-arranged time table was difficult and the Battalion again moved forward almost immediately towards the Lille road which was reached at approximately 11am.

Battalion HQ moved forward to Kramer Haus. C Coy on left and D Coy on right dug in west of the Lille road on either side of Grenadier Graben.

A Coy on the right and B Coy on the left lined up behind Point du Jour – Farbus line and marked out the main line to be dug from Telegrapher Weg at a point A.6.d to Kramer Haus A.5.b and immediately started consolidating.

All of the objectives had been reached by the attacking units and the operations so far were wholly successful, many prisoners and much material having been captured. The Battalion dug continuously throughout the day.

In the evening Patrols went out and located the positions held by the 2/KOSB and 1/R W Kent. Lewis Guns were put out in front of our positions and digging was steadily proceeded with.

Casualties: 1 officer and 1 man killed, with 1 Officer and 50 OR’s wounded and 1 OR missing.