Name
Cecil Weare (MC)
22 May 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Regiment)
25th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XXI. AA. 14.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Town Hall Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Cecil was born on 22 May 1893 in Hitchin, his parents were Frederick William and Alice Ellen Weare (née Parker). They married on 21 August 1886 in the Paish Church of St Clement Danes, London.
In 1901 the family were living at 14 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Frederick (42) and Alice (36), with Frederick and working as a watch maker. Their children were Evelyn (14), Raymund (13), Elsie (12), Cecil (7) and another son of three weeks and unnamed. Also present was Alice’s mother Maria Parker (60).
By 1911 the family were living at 15 Tilehouse St, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Frederick now working as a watch maker and jewellers assistant. The census recorded they had been married for 5 years with 4 children, of whom 1 had died. Of the children listed above were only the youngest was present, now named William Cyril (10). Also present were a boarder Jenni Annie Roberts (23) and a visitor Margarete Slater Hunt (50).
He was a boot boy at the Priory and then a chauffeur. The family believe that he was stopped from joining up by his parents and ran away to Canada where he joined the Nova Scotia infantry, enlisting on 8th December 1914 into the Nova Scotia Regiment. This seems unlikely, at least the reason, because the passenger list for the Royal Edward shows that Cecil emigrated on 3 June 1913. In this record Cecil gave his profession as a chauffeur and claimed he was 18, when in fact he would have been 20. He seems to have been accompanied by Florence Weare aged 46. Their destination was the Port of Montreal and then Quebec.
Cecil enlisted in Halifax, Canada on 5 December 1914. His papers record him born in Hitchin and that he was working as a chauffeur and that he had served in the RCR(?) for three months. It also recorded his next of kin as his father Frederick Weare at 5 Park Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. He was described as 21 years old, 5’ 6 1/2” tall, 130 lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair.
Wartime Service
Cecil was in the 26th Canadian Infantry and he had joined the Canadian forces in October 1914 as a private soldier (68083). He sailed from Halifax on 20 May 1915 on the S.S. Saxonia and arrived in England 9 days later. For some unexplained reason he forfeited 2 days pay at East Sandby on 4 August 1915.
He left for France on 15 September 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal at some point.
On 11 March 1916 he was appointed as Acting Sergeant, probably because Sergt. W B Anderson was away.
He was granted 8 days leave from 5 April 1916 and upon the return of Sergt. Anderson’s return (May 6th) Cecil reverted to his previous rank. He was then promoted to Sergt. on 7 May 1916, when a Sergt. Matherson was commissioned. Promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in the field on 10 October 1916 – confirmed on the 16th, then received 5 days leave on 28 October.
He was promoted to Temporary Captain on 26 January 1917 and awarded the Military Cross following the taking of Vimy Ridge on the 9th April 1917.
He reported wounded on 28 April 1917 and went to 10 Stationary Hospital St Omer (May 2nd), then No 7 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne (May 13th). He was discharged back to duty on May 20th.
The London Gazette records the award of the Military Cross to "Lieutenant Cecil Weare Canadian Infantry for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his Company in the face of heavy fire of all kinds and despite strong opposition captured and consolidated the enemy trench. He displayed great courage and initiative throughout."
As a result of the fighting at Vimy Ridge he suffered from shellshock and lost the hearing in his left ear. The medical board found him fit to garrison duty abroad, but permanently infit for general service and in consequence was made Conducting Officer at the base, and so he should have been safe.
He was granted another 10 days leave to England on 17 September 1917.
At the time of his death the Canadian Corps were attacking in the vicinity of Passchendaele in the Ypres Salient. The unit sustained numerous counter attacks all of which were repulsed by the evening of the 31st October 1917, but the casualties were considerable, but that was coincidental as Cecil was in Camp.
Just before his death Cecil had conducted troops up the line to Ypres where he had met his brother Lance Corporal Raymond Weare who had just returned from leave in Hitchin and whom he had not met since April 1916.
He was dangerously wounded on 31 October 1917. In the early hours of the morning the hut he was in was struck by an aerial bomb severely wounding him. He was received into No 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Boulogne at 6.00am. It was recorded that he had multiple wounds. He died at 9.25am in the 9th Field Ambulance being conscious to the last.
After his death his mother Alice was given as his next of kin in at least one document.
Additional Information
He assigned some of his pay to an Aunt Gertrude Lanning at Ladner, British Columbia, Canada.
After his death his parents address was given as 5 Park Street, Hitchin.
Records show that his Canadian Memorial Cross was sent to his mother 11 June 1920. Then his medals, decorations and scroll were sent to his father 24 February 1921, then his plaque and scroll 16 June 1922.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Ian Hart
