Military History

Cyril is listed as being killed in action during an action near Vendelles on 10th March 1918. The 2nd Queens Bays war diary entries for the period 5th to 11th March 1918 are transcribed below.

Vendelles – 05/08 Mar 1918:The Brigade remained at Vendelles. Practice for the proposed raid being carried out each day.

Vendelles – 09/10 Mar 1918: The raid on the enemy's position at Square Copse and Filler Work was carried out during the night. The raiding party was commanded by Major R.M. Stewart Richardson, with Headquarters of the Queen’s Bays and consisted of 3 parties of-
"A" Lieut. Tattersall,5th. Dragoon Guards, and 15 picked men - wire cutting party.
"B" Capt. Sutherland, 2/Lt. Gladden and 70 O.Rs." Queen's Bays".
"C" Capt. Pelham MC. and 70 O.Rks.11th. Hussars, with covering parties of 80 O.Rks. of the 5th. Dragoon Guards.

The leading party left our Lines at 9.20 pm and found Eleven Trees held by the enemy. Lt. Miles, 5^th Dragoon Guards with a party attacked this post, which consisted of 1 NCO and 10 O.Rks, taking 2 prisoners and killing the remainder. The main party then went on up to the enemy wire, a bangalore torpedo was fired but failed to completely destroy the enemy's wire. Hostile Machine Guns immediately opened fire. The second bangalore torpedo was exploded by a bomb or shell. It was impossible to advance any further. Our party threw bombs at the enemy, and after waiting 11 minutes under intense machine gun fire, were ordered to withdraw. It was estimated that about 30 of the enemy were killed or wounded by our bombing and rifle fire, irrespective of casualties caused by our artillery barrage.

Our Casualties:- Lieut. Tattersall and Lt Miles wounded.
Queen’s Bays: 3 killed and 30 wounded
5^th Dragoon Guards: 2 killed and 5 wounded
11^th Hussars: 1 killed and 6 wounded

Vendelles – 11 Mar 1918: 1st Dismounted Brigade remained at Vendelles.