Name
Cyril Sidney Merralls Vale
13/07/1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42002
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
II. E. 35.
France
Headstone Inscription
He Fought And Died That We Might Live In Freedom A Christlike Act
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey Village Memorial, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Cyril Sidney Merralls Vale, born in Oxhey, Herts, on 13 June 1899, he was the youngest of two sons of Reynolds Vale and Elizabeth Ann Vale, (nee Watson). His father ran a grocery store.
His parents married 18 April 1881 at St Mary the Virgin, Dover, Kent. Elizabeth died 1906 in Oxhey aged 52, and was buried 2 June at St James’, Bushey, Herts; Reynold died 9 January 1932 in Oxhey aged 75, and was buried 13 January, also at St James.
Cyril was Baptised on 9th July 1899, at St Matthews Church, Oxhey. The 1901 Census records Cyril aged 1, living with his parents and elder brother Reynolds 16, who was an assistant in the family Grocery Store, they lived at 35, London Road, Bushey, Herts.
When Cyril was about six his mother Elizabeth died, aged 52. His brother Reynolds married, and he and his wife Edith joined the family at 35 Chalk Hill, Herts, and both helped in the grocery business. Cyril attended Watford Boys Grammar School from January 1907 to December 1914.
1911 Census records Cyril aged 11, at school, living with his widowed father, at 35 Chalk Hill, Oxhey, his brother Reynolds and his wife Edith also lived with them and assisted in the family Grocery business, they also had a live-in General servant.
Wartime Service
When war broke out, he enlisted at Watford as Private 42002 in the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. He served on the Western Front and died on 27th August 1918, of wounds received during fighting at Aveluy Wood, he was 19.
He is remembered with honour at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille in France. He is commemorated at the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Additional Information
After his death he was recorded as the son of Mr. R. Vale and Mrs. E. A. Vale, of Oxhey, Herts. The value of his effects was £9-2s-4d, Pay Owing and £4-10s-0d, War Gratuity, which went to his father Reynolds.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“VALE, CYRIL SIDNEY MERRALLS. School period: January, 1907, to December, 1914. Private, Herts. Regiment. Died of wounds, 27th August, 1918.”
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Cyril in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 31 August 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 30 August 1919.
Additional information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
