Name
Cyril John Matthew Stokes
29 March 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/13376
Middlesex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Margaret's Church Memorial, Ridge, St Margaret's Church Roll of Honour, Ridge, Not on the Shenley memorial, Not on the South Mimms memorials
Pre War
Cyril John Matthew Stokes was born on 29 March 1897 in South Mimms, Herts, the son of John and Beachy Stokes and baptised on 6 June 1897 at St Giles, South Mimms. He was one of seven children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at South Mimms village where his father was working as a farm labourer and his mother was running a 'small launderers' at home on her own account. They remained in South Mimms in 1911 at which time 14 year old Cyril and his father were both working as general labourers on a farm.
At the time of enlistment in 1915, Cyril was living with his family at Deeve Hall Cottages, Ridge, nr Shenley, Herts and working as a farm labourer.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 3 July 1915 at Mill Hill, Middlesex and joined the 6th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He embarked for France on 3 January 1916 and joined the Battalion in the field on 18 March 1916.
He was admitted to the 99th Field Ambulance on 27 May 1916 suffering from influenza but returned to duty a few days later. He was again admitted to a Field Ambulance on 31 August 1916 with diarrhoea and returned to duty on 8 September 1916.
Cyril was killed in action on 28 October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £6 7s 6d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.iwm.org.uk
