Name
Cecil Kitchener
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/10/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Garrison Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAWALPINDI WAR CEMETERY
1. A. 4.
Pakistan
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Cecil was the son of Charles and Jane Kitchener, born in Biggleswade on 12 Dec 1882
In the 1891 Census, Cecil was 9. The family consisted of his parents and siblings: William (15), Davey (13), Lottie (11), David (8), Alice (5), Percy (3) and May (4 months). The family were living at Newtown Cottage, Hatfield and Charles was working as a railway labourer.
In 1901 the family were still living at in Newtown Cottages. Cecil had a new sibling, Charles J aged 7. Cecil was working as a railway engine cleaner and his father as a railway platelayer.
Sometime in early 1903, Cecil enlisted into the Army and probably to the Royal Garrison Artillery.
He can be found in the 1911 Census as Cecil Kitchener aged 28, a private (soldier Gunner) in the Royal Garrison Artillery and billeted in Chapel Bay Battery, Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The census shows that he had been in the Army for 8 years 3 months, he was single; the census was taken 2nd April.
Charles, Jane, Percy and May were living in Newtown, Hatfield.
Wartime Service
When war began, it is not clear whether Cecil was still in the Army, had re-enlisted or called up from the Reserve List, but was a Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery, in Pakistan.
A Medal Card records him as a Lieutenant in the 94 Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, records “Kitchener, Cecil. Newtown, Royal Garrison Artillery.” and then in December 1918: “Another death to be chronicled is that of Lieut. Cecil Kitchener, RGA. Who died of pneumonia at Rawal Pindi on October 30th. It is strange and sad that the last death to be chronicled in the month of armistice should have been that of one who by his unaided efforts had risen high in the service, and brought an unsullied honour to his family and birth place. RIP.”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Additional Information
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941: Will of Kitchener, Cecil of Newtown Hatfield Herts. Lieutenant R.G.A died 30th October 1918 at RAWAL PINDI India Administration. London 24th January, to Sarah Jane Kitchener Widow. Effects £427.5s.9d.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Kitchener (Mother) of Newtown, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
