Name
Cecil Charles Smith
4th August 1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/05/1918
18 years
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/96849
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JONCHERY-SUR-VESLE BRITISH CEMETERY
I. I. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
"WE LOVED HIM WELL BUT JESUS LOVED HIM BEST"
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Cottered, Not on the Baldock memorials, Not on the Walsworth memorial
Pre War
Cecil Charles Smith was born in Walsworth, Hitchin, Hertfordshire on 4th August 1899, son of Henry Smith (born 1870 in Cottered, Herts) a Stockman, and Harriette (nee Hearn, born 1869 in Cottered, Herts.) He was baptised on 1st October 1899 in the Parish of Cottered, Herts. At the time of his baptism the family were living in Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts.
The 1901 Census records Cecil, aged 1, living with his parents, and elder brother James, aged 7, in Willian Road, Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts. Cecil attended St Mary’s National School, Hitchin. Cecil’s father Henry died in 1907 and the family moved to Cottered, Herts, where he attended Cottered, Church of England School. The 1911 Census records Cecil, aged 11, living with his widowed mother and elder brother James Harry, aged 17, in Cottered, Herts.
At the time of his enlistment Cecil was working as a Chauffeur and living at Radwell House, Baldock, Herts.
Wartime Service
Cecil, having been deemed to have enlisted on 2nd March 1916, was called forward for medicals and full enlistment in Hertford on 7th September 1917 aged 18, and posted to the 32nd Battalion, Training Reserve with the Service Number TR/10/311088.
On completion of his training, Cecil was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment, with the service number 96849 and departing for France on 2nd April 1918 joining with 2nd Middx. on 4th April. He was promoted Lance Corporal on 6th April 1918.
The British were holding a quiet sector of the Front along the Chemin des Dames when German launched an attack on 17th May 1918 forcing a tactical retreat. During this fighting Cecil was reported Missing on 27th May 1918 and he was later presumed Killed in Action on that day.
He is buried in the CWGC Jonchery-Sur-Vesle British Cemetery, Marne, France.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs H. Smith, Cottered, Buntingford, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "WE LOVED HIM WELL BUT JESUS LOVED HIM BEST". His effects of £10-14s-9d, of which £5 was his war gratuity, was left to his mother Harriette.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne
