Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn.
Son of the Rt. Rev. Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, and Lady Florence Cecil. His brothers John Arthur and Randle William also fell.
He was a grandson of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as Prime Minister.
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916 (public domain):
"GASCOYNE-CECIL, RUPERT EDWARD, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th, attached 1st, Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th son of the Rev. Canon Lord William Rupert Ernest Gascoyne-Cecil, Rector of Hatfield, by his wife, Lady Florence Mary, née Bootle Wilbraham, 3rd daughter of Edward, 1st Earl of Lathom, G.C.B., P.C., and gdson. of Robert Arthur Talbot, 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O.; b. St. Audrey's, Hatfield, 20 Jan. 1895; educated Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; joined the Public School Corps on the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914, and obtained his commission in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment 15 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action near Ypres, 11 July, 1915, during a bombardment succeeding the blowing up of a very big mine by the Germans between the trenches, and was buried close to the Ypres-Cominis line, in the brigade headquarters cemetery; unmarried. His commanding officer wrote: "Your son was only with us unfortunately for a very short time, but he had endeared himself to all who knew him by his cheerfulness and soldierly qualities." Captain Curtis also wrote: "The Germans exploded a very large mine between two of our trenches about 7.15 p.m. and then shelled us heavily. On hearing the explosion your son immediately tried to get up to the fire trench, of which he was in charge, but unfortunately he was struck on the head by a fragment of shell, and was killed instantaneously.... He was always beloved by all his fellow officers, and above all by his men, who had a great respect for him. We all feel the loss which the Regiment has sustained by his death but we are proud he was doing his duty so nobly when he was killed. A good many men were stunned and confused by the explosion, but your son remained cool and met his death going to his post." 2nd Lieutenant Cecil rowed in the Torpids at Oxford, and was keenly interested in bell-ringing. His three brothers are all now (1916) on Active Service: Randle William, 2nd Lieutenant 93rd Brigade, R.F.A.; Victor Alexander, Captain, Hampshire Regiment (twice wounded); and John Arthur, Lieutenant and Adjutant, 19th Brigade, R.F.A."
Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn.
Son of the Rt. Rev. Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, and Lady Florence Cecil. His brothers John Arthur and Randle William also fell.
He was a grandson of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as Prime Minister.
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916 (public domain):
"GASCOYNE-CECIL, RUPERT EDWARD, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th, attached 1st, Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th son of the Rev. Canon Lord William Rupert Ernest Gascoyne-Cecil, Rector of Hatfield, by his wife, Lady Florence Mary, née Bootle Wilbraham, 3rd daughter of Edward, 1st Earl of Lathom, G.C.B., P.C., and gdson. of Robert Arthur Talbot, 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O.; b. St. Audrey's, Hatfield, 20 Jan. 1895; educated Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; joined the Public School Corps on the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914, and obtained his commission in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment 15 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action near Ypres, 11 July, 1915, during a bombardment succeeding the blowing up of a very big mine by the Germans between the trenches, and was buried close to the Ypres-Cominis line, in the brigade headquarters cemetery; unmarried. His commanding officer wrote: "Your son was only with us unfortunately for a very short time, but he had endeared himself to all who knew him by his cheerfulness and soldierly qualities." Captain Curtis also wrote: "The Germans exploded a very large mine between two of our trenches about 7.15 p.m. and then shelled us heavily. On hearing the explosion your son immediately tried to get up to the fire trench, of which he was in charge, but unfortunately he was struck on the head by a fragment of shell, and was killed instantaneously.... He was always beloved by all his fellow officers, and above all by his men, who had a great respect for him. We all feel the loss which the Regiment has sustained by his death but we are proud he was doing his duty so nobly when he was killed. A good many men were stunned and confused by the explosion, but your son remained cool and met his death going to his post." 2nd Lieutenant Cecil rowed in the Torpids at Oxford, and was keenly interested in bell-ringing. His three brothers are all now (1916) on Active Service: Randle William, 2nd Lieutenant 93rd Brigade, R.F.A.; Victor Alexander, Captain, Hampshire Regiment (twice wounded); and John Arthur, Lieutenant and Adjutant, 19th Brigade, R.F.A."
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn.
Son of the Rt. Rev. Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, and Lady Florence Cecil. His brothers John Arthur and Randle William also fell.
He was a grandson of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as Prime Minister.
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916 (public domain):
"GASCOYNE-CECIL, RUPERT EDWARD, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th, attached 1st, Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th son of the Rev. Canon Lord William Rupert Ernest Gascoyne-Cecil, Rector of Hatfield, by his wife, Lady Florence Mary, née Bootle Wilbraham, 3rd daughter of Edward, 1st Earl of Lathom, G.C.B., P.C., and gdson. of Robert Arthur Talbot, 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O.; b. St. Audrey's, Hatfield, 20 Jan. 1895; educated Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; joined the Public School Corps on the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914, and obtained his commission in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment 15 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action near Ypres, 11 July, 1915, during a bombardment succeeding the blowing up of a very big mine by the Germans between the trenches, and was buried close to the Ypres-Cominis line, in the brigade headquarters cemetery; unmarried. His commanding officer wrote: "Your son was only with us unfortunately for a very short time, but he had endeared himself to all who knew him by his cheerfulness and soldierly qualities." Captain Curtis also wrote: "The Germans exploded a very large mine between two of our trenches about 7.15 p.m. and then shelled us heavily. On hearing the explosion your son immediately tried to get up to the fire trench, of which he was in charge, but unfortunately he was struck on the head by a fragment of shell, and was killed instantaneously.... He was always beloved by all his fellow officers, and above all by his men, who had a great respect for him. We all feel the loss which the Regiment has sustained by his death but we are proud he was doing his duty so nobly when he was killed. A good many men were stunned and confused by the explosion, but your son remained cool and met his death going to his post." 2nd Lieutenant Cecil rowed in the Torpids at Oxford, and was keenly interested in bell-ringing. His three brothers are all now (1916) on Active Service: Randle William, 2nd Lieutenant 93rd Brigade, R.F.A.; Victor Alexander, Captain, Hampshire Regiment (twice wounded); and John Arthur, Lieutenant and Adjutant, 19th Brigade, R.F.A."
Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn.
Son of the Rt. Rev. Lord Rupert Ernest William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, and Lady Florence Cecil. His brothers John Arthur and Randle William also fell.
He was a grandson of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as Prime Minister.
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916 (public domain):
"GASCOYNE-CECIL, RUPERT EDWARD, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th, attached 1st, Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 4th son of the Rev. Canon Lord William Rupert Ernest Gascoyne-Cecil, Rector of Hatfield, by his wife, Lady Florence Mary, née Bootle Wilbraham, 3rd daughter of Edward, 1st Earl of Lathom, G.C.B., P.C., and gdson. of Robert Arthur Talbot, 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O.; b. St. Audrey's, Hatfield, 20 Jan. 1895; educated Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; joined the Public School Corps on the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914, and obtained his commission in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment 15 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action near Ypres, 11 July, 1915, during a bombardment succeeding the blowing up of a very big mine by the Germans between the trenches, and was buried close to the Ypres-Cominis line, in the brigade headquarters cemetery; unmarried. His commanding officer wrote: "Your son was only with us unfortunately for a very short time, but he had endeared himself to all who knew him by his cheerfulness and soldierly qualities." Captain Curtis also wrote: "The Germans exploded a very large mine between two of our trenches about 7.15 p.m. and then shelled us heavily. On hearing the explosion your son immediately tried to get up to the fire trench, of which he was in charge, but unfortunately he was struck on the head by a fragment of shell, and was killed instantaneously.... He was always beloved by all his fellow officers, and above all by his men, who had a great respect for him. We all feel the loss which the Regiment has sustained by his death but we are proud he was doing his duty so nobly when he was killed. A good many men were stunned and confused by the explosion, but your son remained cool and met his death going to his post." 2nd Lieutenant Cecil rowed in the Torpids at Oxford, and was keenly interested in bell-ringing. His three brothers are all now (1916) on Active Service: Randle William, 2nd Lieutenant 93rd Brigade, R.F.A.; Victor Alexander, Captain, Hampshire Regiment (twice wounded); and John Arthur, Lieutenant and Adjutant, 19th Brigade, R.F.A."
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