Military History

Cecil is listed as being killed in action on 3rd December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. The 2nd/8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 1st to 4th December are transcribed below

La Vacquerie - 1 Dec1917: Battalion moved up to the line at 5 p.m. via Beaucamp and Villers-Plouich. Two Companies in the front line south of La Vacquerie (Hindenburg support and final line). One Company in support and one Company in Corner Work at La Vacquerie along with Battalion H.Q. Relief complete at 4:15 a.m. on 2^nd inst. Relieved Buffs, R.E. & details. 7 O.R. wounded.

La Vacquerie - 2 Dec1917: 6.30am: Enemy attacked mainly on my right and gained footing in saps of Battalion on my right. Their attack was repulsed. 4 O.R. to C.C.S. [Casualty Clearing Station].

2.30pm: Enemy again attacked at large numbers. Attack repulsed on my front but enemy got into the old Hindenburg support & front line on my right where he already held the saps.

6.30pm: Counter attacked with my support Coy, cleared enemy from Sunken Road on my right but could not dislodge them from the trenches.

11pm: 2/5 Warwicks arrived to relieve me in front line, handed over front line to them and put 2 Coys in my support line ready to counter attack again at dawn. Left one Coy in Corner Work and took remainder back to old British front & support lines from Village Road to Fusilier Alley. Relief complete 6.30am 3^rd inst.

2/Lieut H. Gerald killed, Capt. R.H. Stallard, 2/Lt’s F.R. Adams, H. Merifield, wounded.
2/Lt H.S. Bell missing assumed believed prisoner. 13 O.R wounded

La Vacquerie - 3 Dec1917: Enemy again attacked in force, especially on Corner Work. Sent another Company up to reinforce Corner Work.

Information that enemy working around trenches in rear of Corner Work sent up Bombing Party of 30 to clear these trenches which was successfully done. Remainder of Battalion stood to in old British front & support lines all day. Enemy shelling heavy. Enemy attack stopped. We are still holding Corner Work trench.

Capt. G. Pritchard killed, 2/Lieut. J.H. Rose wounded, Lieut. E.H.A. Lockwood, Lieut. E.H.G. GUMPERT wounded (gassed), 2/Lieut. C.H. Albert missing, 2/Lieut. G.L. Martin wounded. 9 O.R. [Other Ranks] killed, 69 O.R. wounded, 10 O.R. missing, wounded believed prisoner, 35 missing believed prisoners. 7 O.R. wounded gassed, 1 O.R. missing believed killed.

La Vacquerie - 4 Dec1917: The enemy has been inactive except for heavy artillery shelling using a lot of gas shells.
Lt Col L.L. Bilton wounded (gassed) at duty. 12 OR wounded, 6 OR to CCS