Name
Cyril George Penfold
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3030
Hertfordshire Regiment
2nd/1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. ALBANS (HATFIELD ROAD) CEMETERY
E. E. 12.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Cyril George Penfold was born in 1897 in Newington or Walworth (censuses vary), London and his parents were Thomas Christopher and Mary Ann Penfold (née Richardson Stoodley). They had married in St Peter’s Church, Battersea, London on 5 November 1889.
In 1901 the family were living at Walton Street, St Albans. Present were both parents: Thomas (32) and Mary (33), with Thomas and working as a paper hanger (house). Their children were: Florence H (10), Christopher William (5) and Cyril George (3),
By 1911 the family were living at Belgrave, New Grange Street, St Albans, Herts. Present were both parents, Thomas now working as a house painter for a builder. The census recorded they had been married for 22 years with 5 children, all living. All the children listed above were present except Florence, plus Gwendoline May (8) and Dorothy Lillian (6). Also present was a lodger, Alfred Ballinger (19).
Officially Cyril was recorded as living in St. Albans and enlisting in Enlistment place Hertford.
Wartime Service
Cyril enlisted in the Hertfordshire Territorial Battalion between 5 September 1914 and 4 November 1914, so soon after war was declared and part of Kitchener’s Army.
Very few military records have been found for Cyril, so do not yet know for certain that he served abroad, If he did then he would not have gone after training, which was normally at least six months. So perhaps he may have gone to France in mid-1915.
We know that he died in 1 East General Hospital in Cambridge on 19 April 1916 and, as he was recorded as ‘died’ this suggest from illness or possible accident. In fact his death certificate reveals that he died, aged 18, of:
- Sarcoma of the testicle (6 months) and
- Sarcoma of the liver (1month).
Additional Information
After his death £4 12s 9d was authorised to go to his father. Thomas Christpher Penfold, on 23 June 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to him on 20 September 1919.
His pension cards record M A Penfold, his mother, as his dependant, living at Belgrave, Grange Street, St Albans. His card does not record a pension, only a gratuity awarded on 16 November, 1916. However, after her death the card was updated with to his father Thomas C at 40 Cambridge Road, St Albans, which suggests a pension may have been awarded.
Cyril's grave appears to be the family grave in St. Albans (Hatfield Road) Cemetery, not CWGC, unless we have the wrong information. Any doubt is simply because the inscription on the headstone does not seem to mention Cyril and reads:
To the memory of Mary Ann Penfold
Loving wife of T. C. penfold for 62 years.
Died 17th April 1952 aged 84.
Also Thomas Christopher Penfold
Died 27th March 1950 aged 84.
Reunited
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild, Emma Butler
