Name
Cecil James Cordell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265841
Hertfordshire Regiment
No. 4 Coy. 1st Bn.
4 Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Walkern War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, Not on the Ardeley memorials
Pre War
Cecil was born in Ardeley around 1896 and his parents were John and Susan Maria Elliot Cordell (née Kitchener) who married on 9 January 1889, in St Peter’s Church. Paddington, Westminster.
In 1891 the family were living at Bury Grange at Ardeley Bury. Present were both parents: John (34) and Susan M E (33)with John working as a farmer and employer. Their children were: Fredrick C (1) and Cecil J H Cordell, who was just 1 month old, a servant Lizzy Wing (15) was also present.
By 1901 the family had moved to were living at Bridge Foot Farm, Walkern. Present were both parents, with John still a farmer and employer. Their children were the two boys listed above , plus Stuart (6), Harold (3) and Grace at just 3 months. Ella Cordell was visiting, and their servant was now Ruth Stevens.
By 1911 the family were still living at Bridge Foot Farm. Present were both parents and all the children listed above. Frederick, Cecil and Stuart were all recorded as farmer’s sons working on farm. The census recorded John and Susan as married for 22 years with 9 children of whom 4 had died.
Officially Cecil was recorded as born in Ardley, Herts, living in Walkern, when he enlisted in Hertford
Wartime Service
Cecil originally had the service number 3112 meaning he attested between 6th September 1914
and 4th November 1914. In fact he enlisted on 14 September 1914 and was described as 5’ 8” with dark hair and grey eyes.He would have been re-numbers early in 1917 as part of a restructuring if service numbers etc.
After training he went overseas, landing in France on 23 January 1915, which was a shorter period of training that normal.
He was wounded in action, receiving a gunshot wound to his arm and both legs on 18 May 1915. Going first to the Field Ambulance, then to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques, No. 8 Static Hospital at Armentieres and was at No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen by the May 24th. After convalescence he re-joined his Battalion on 24 October 1915.
On 24 January 1916 he was taken ill with influenza ang again was admitted to hospital, this time No. 4 Static Hospital at St Omer, returning to duty on February 14th.
On 14 October 1916 he was wounded in the face, later clarifies as his right eyebrow. This must have been a fairly superficial wound as he was returned to duty in the field on the 18th. It was shortly after this that he found a German postcard, on a dead German soldier which is believed to have been found by Cecil on a dead soldier in the Somme in November 1916
He was given leave to England between 29 June 1917 to 9 July 1917, but sadly he returned in time to join the Hertfordshires for the offensive as St Julien on the 31st and that is where he was killed.
He Regimental number was 265841. He served in 4 Company of the Regiment. He was killed in action.
On the day of his death, the 1st Herts were cut to pieces by shot and shell at St Julien in the Ypres Salient. They had marched from Vlamertinge to their assembly position arriving by midnight on the 30th/31st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German Lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and the Hertfordshires left their assembly position at 5.00am and captured St. Julien during the morning. Unfortunately, the promised supporting artillery barrage did not materialise as the guns could not be brought up due to the all-prevailing mud. By noon the Herts had crossed the Steenbeck stream and had come across unbroken wire that prevented any further advance. The German artillery and machine-guns decimated them and by the end of the day the Herts had virtually ceased to exist. Over half the fighting strength of the Battalion, including most of the officers, were killed or wounded in a single day.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 54 or 56 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
His Death Plaque and scroll was sent to his father at Bridgefoot Farm on 25 June 1919.
After his death £8 1s 3d was authorised to go to his father on 25 January 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £13 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 15 November 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
