Military History

Cyril is listed as being killed in action on 15 Sep 1916. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Leuze Wood - Sept 14^th 1916 – 11pm: On night of 14^th/15^th battalion moved up and occupied an assembly trench on North side of Guillemont-Combles Road being in position by 11pm.

Leuze Wood - Sept 15^th 1916 – 6.20am:  At 6.20am the artillery barrage opened and the battalion left the Assembly Trenches. The signal was then given to change direction half right and get into assault formation. The battalion was then facing NE between fronts T.21.c.4.9 and T.20.d.4.9.

6.35am: at 6.35am the Battn commenced to advance & at once came under heavy machine gun fire from front 141.7 and a large number of officers & men were hit. As it was found that this point (141.7) had not been captured and that consequently it was impossible to advance to our objective, about 8.30am Capt Causton assembled as many of the Battn as he could in the trench originally occupied by 8/Bedfordshire Rgt which they had been unable to leave.

The 2/York & Lancaster Rgt had advanced behind the Bttn & had also assembled in the Bedford’s trench. On reorganising there were found to be in this trench about 40 Buffs, 200-300 Yorks & Lancs and 100 Befords.

12.30pm: A number of the battalion were still being it the open in shell holes facing point 141.7 and at 12.30pm the following message was received from 2/Lieut Hills “Am in shell holes about 200 yards from German Line, German line was apparently untouched until the midday bombardment. We got to present position & were unable to proceed due to M.G’s. No signs of Bedfords ahead, Baly killed, Kerley & Miller wounded. Have about 12 men with me and cannot get in touch with anybody. Our shells fell 1^st right beyond German line, 2^nd just short and 3^rd very short. People in valley on left have just returned in account of our shell fire. M.G’s are not touched as all opened on retiring line. We have fire from left and right & just off central sweeping us occasionally.”

7pm: At 7pm the Battn were withdrawn to support trenches NW of Wedge Wood.

Wedge Wood – 16^th: Support Trenches