Name
Cuthbert De’ath (poss D'ath)
10/07/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/06/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12358
Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD
III. C. 97.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Borehamwood Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Borehamwood, Not on the Redbourn memorials
Pre War
Cuthbert De’Ath/D’ath, (depending on the record) was born on 10 July 1888, in Redbourn, Hertfordshire, son of Frank De’Ath, a Shorthand Clerk & Translator and Bessie Elliott De’Ath (nee Hopkins), he was one of eight children.
1891 Census records Cuthbert aged 2, living with his Mother Bessie, and sister Beatrice M. (1), at “Duke Villa”, Barnet Lane, Edgeware, Middx. His father was working away from home on the night of the Census, his elder brother Percy (6), was living with his grandparents James and Mary Hopkins, in Wilton, Wiltshire. The family had a live-in Domestic Servant.
1901 Census records Cuthbert aged 12, living with his parents and six siblings in Summer Grove, Elstree, Herts.
On 5 March 1909, Cuthbert emigrated to New Zealand, sailing from the Port of London, aboard the SS. Arawa, arriving at Wellington, N Z, on 12 May 1909.
Wartime Service
At the time he enlisted Cuthbert was living in Hunterville and working for the Public Works Department of Ohakune in the North Island of New Zealand. He travelled to Trentham Military Camp and enlisted on 17 January 1916, posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion with the service number 12358.
On completion of his training he sailed on the 6 May 1916, for Suez, Egypt, arriving on 22 June 1916. On 26 July 1916 he sailed from Alexandria, Egypt for Southampton, England, arriving on 7 August 1916. Where he moved to Sling Army Camp, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where he joined “D” Company, of the 5th Reserve Battalion. While at Sling Camp he was unable to get leave to visit his family.
On 5th September 1916, Cuthbert left Sling Camp for overseas service with his Battalion, sailing from Southampton the same day for France, a few days later he arrived at Etaples, France, from where on 23 September 1916, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, in the Field.
Cuthbert received a Gun Shot Wound to the abdomen on 10 June 1917, during the Battle of Messines, he was admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, where he died the same day.
Additional Information
Cuthbert spelt his name D’Ath, the family spelt it De’Ath. His service record is available at the New Zealand National Archives.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
