Name
Randle William Gascoyne-Cecil
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/12/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Horse Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Etheldredas Church Window, Bishops Hatfield
Pre War
Randle William Gascoyne-Cecil was born on 28 November 1889. He was the son of Rt. Rev. Lord Rupert Ernest William Cecil and Lady Florence Mary Bootle-Wilbraham.
In 1891 Randle was at Park Place, London with his mother in her sister-in-law’s house and in the 1901 Census, aged 11, he was living with his parents and siblings at St Audrey’s Rectory, Back Street, Old Hatfield.
We know that Randle went to Oxford University as a newspaper reported that he had been: “sent down from the University College Oxford for breach of discipline in November 1908, his offence consisting in throwing stones at the valuable window. This happened soon after a protest by his father in a letter to the press against clumsy, lower class policeman being employed to keep high spirited gentlemen in order. Instead of cultured and refined Oxford Dons.” While at Oxford he spent 2-years attached to the Oxford Officer Training Corps
After this Randle appeared in small parts in Gaiety plays and then accompanied George Grossmith on his American tour, but the dates of these events are unclear.
The 1911 Census, aged 21, he was living with his parents and siblings at St Audrey’s Rectory, Back Street, Old Hatfield.
He left Liverpool on 31st May 1913 on the SS Mauretania, arriving in the USA on 16th June, with his declared occupation a journalist and final destination of Vancouver. He was subsequently recorded as arriving in Quebec on the 24th Jun 1914, which was only 8 days after he had been married - He married, Dorothy May Janaway, daughter of Edward Janaway, on 16 June 1914.
He attested in Victoria into the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 9th November 1914 with the service number 77504. At that time he was recorded as an assistant car repairer and serving in the Militia. At that time he was 24 years and 11 months, 5’ 8 1/2”, with Farir complexion, light brown hair, and blue eyes.
He and Dorothy May Janaway were divorced on 30th July 1915 (Final Decree 7 Feb 1916., with Eric Vickers was cited as co-respondent. At this time he was 24.
He married, again on 2 June 1916, this time to Elizabeth Claire Turner, daughter of George Turner.
Wartime Service
From a private (77504) in the 15th Canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was promoted, presumably first to Second Lieutenant, before a Lieutenant and transferred to the Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery.
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second List of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Randle Cecil – St Audrey’s – Rocky Mountain Rangers Canadian Contingent.” Then in August 1917: “Wounded – Randle Cecil, Lt. – Canadian Contingent.” and in January 1918: “Our deepest sympathy goes to our late Rector and Lady Florence in the further loss they have sustained in the death of their eldest son Lieut. Randle Cecil, R.F.A. Few of us who can remember him as a boy of studious ways with an old fashioned courtesy all his own, but will remember him with tenderness and regret. Of late too he had shown himself a very gallant soldier, of a courage which never counted the cost and he met his end having served his guns to the last and joining the infantry against overwhelming odds. That one who was no soldier by nature should have proved himself so completely a soldier without fear and without reproach, has proved indeed the true spirit which was within him.”
The Herts. Advertiser of 15th December 1917, reported:
“Captain R. W. Cecil.
Bishop’s son killed in action.
Much sympathy will be felt for Lord Wm. Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, and Lady Florence Cecil, in the sorrow that has befallen them in the death in action of their eldest son, Captain Randle William Cecil. The letter from an army chaplain conveying the sad information reads
‘On Nov. 30th and Dec.1st there was very heavy fighting in a village recently captured from the Germans when your son’s trench mortars were put out of action. He very gallantly went to the assistance of the infantry who were hard pressed, and was given the command of a company. On the Saturday the village was shelled with extreme violence and a shell practically hit your son (his men report) killing him instantly.’
The letter adds that all are grieved as he was well known as a very gallant and capable officer, while many knew him as a charming friend and companion.
Capt. Cecil, who had been living in the Dominions, came over with the Canadians and was subsequently given a commission in an English regiment. He was born in 1869 and leaves a widow. Lieutenant Edward Cecil, Bedfordshire Regt, fourth son of the Bishop of Exeter and Lady Florence Cecil, was killed in action was killed in action in July 1916, and their second son, Lieutenant Victor Alexander has been twice wounded.”
Awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal.
Additional Information
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administration), 1861-1919 – Cecil, Randle William Gascoyne of 30 Rifle-Crescent Aston Birmingham, lieutenant Royal Horse Artillery died 1 December 1917 in France on active service. Administration, London, 3 January to Elizabeth Claire Cecil, widow. Effects £123.19s.1d.
His brothers John Arthur and Rupert Edward also fell.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Randle Cecil received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), Jonty Wild
