Cecil, who took up his commission with the Royal Fusiliers in February 1918, was involved in action on 8 March as the Germans began what was to be their last major offensive.

Notably, on 24 August 1918, the War Diary records “After dark, a platoon under 2nd Lieutenant C W N Woodcock moved along N edge of Favreuil and they were fired on by several machine guns from the Orchard. These were rushed and the machine gun and crew were captured.”

Cecil was killed three weeks later near the village of Beugny in a fight to take German positions in Bilhem Chappel Wood. The fight was very fierce, with much hand-to-hand action and although ultimately successful, Cecil, with more than 30 comrades lost their lives in the battle.

Robin Marriott