Name
Cyril Rayner Skeet
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/07/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33570
Yorkshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XVI. I. 15A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION JOHN II.24"
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial
Pre War
Cyril Rayner Skeet was born in Dulwich, London/Surrey, in the early part of 1896, son of James Rayner Skeet, believed to have been a Butcher and Rose Caroline Skeet (nee Chant), their only son.
Baptised on 18th March 1896, at Emmanuel Church, West Dulwich, London/Surrey.
1901 Census records Cyril aged 5, living with his parents at, 1 Terrace cottage, The Parade, St Peter Intra, Thanet, Kent. His father is recorded as living on own means. Later that year Cyril and his parents emigrated, leaving the Port of London on 29th August 1901, for Wellington, New Zealand, aboard the SS. Gothic, this was due to his father’s poor heath, it was thought the air in New Zealand would help.
His father James died on 30th June 1903. Cyril and his mother Rose returned to England. Rose remarried in April 1908 to William Henry Ewing, at Jesus Chapel, Enfield, Middx.
1911 records, Cyril aged 15, is at school, living with his mother and stepfather William Ewing at, 3 Palace Mansions, Enfield, Middx.
Wartime Service
Cyril enlisted at Enfield, Middx, posted to the West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales Own) with the service number 50090, later transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment ( Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own) with the service number 33570.
On completion of his training, Cyril saw action on the Western Front, he died on 29th July 1917, at No 3. Casualty clearing station of wound received in action. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref; XVI. I. 15. A.
Additional Information
His effects of £9-4s-7d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his mother Rose Ewing the administrator of his Will. Probate of his Will £118-19s-6d, went to his mother Rose Ewing.
His Headstone Inscription: “I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION JOHN II.24” was requested by his mother.
The SDITGW record he was “formerly 230019 R.A.S.C.” no record was found to confirm this.
Some record give the date of death as 28th July 1917, not the 29th.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
