FEAKES, Cecil Henry


No.3/18855, Lance Corporal, Cecil Henry FEAKES
Aged 20


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on or since Friday, 18th August 1916


Cecil Henry FEAKES was born in Fornham St.Martin on 8th April 1896 (Thingoe Q2-1896 4A:792) baptised in Fornham St Martin on 24th May 1896, son of Walter Sparrow and Mary Ann FEAKES (née HAMMOND).

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Old Hall Lane, Fornham St.Martin with his father William S FEAKES [44] carpenter/wheelwright born Cockfield; his mother Mary A [41] born Stanningfield; brothers William C [16] farm labourer and Frederick [10] both born Hawstead, and Albert E [2] born Fornham St.Martin; sisters Olive M [12]and Millicent [8] both born Hawstead and Doris E [10 months] born Fornham St.Martin. He had elder sisters Anna [11] born Stanningfield and Augusta [9] born Hawstead.

1911 census...Aged 14, garden boy, he was in Fornham St.Martin with his widowed mother; brothers William Charles (Reservist and farm labourer), Fred L.(labourer), Herbert H [5] and Leslie W [1] both born in Fornham St.Martin; sisters Oliver Mary and Doris E.

The pension card has his mother at Old Hall, Fornham St Martin

His eldest brother William died with the Norfolk Regiment in France in September 1914. see here





He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds

On 18th August they were still trying to take and hold Cochrane Alley, the area being the junction of the British and French armies. the war diary:-
Attack carried out by 1st Gordon Highlanders on same objective as on 16th.
Two companies and specialists withdrawn from SHUTE and ASSEMBLY TRENCHES to TALUS BOIS. Remainder with Lewis Guns held extension of COCHRANE ALLEY and co-operated by firing Lewis Guns over head at German machine guns about B.1.c.5.5. (shown below)


Maltz Horn Farm, often quoted in reports of this engagement was immediately west of where Cecil was found taken, it no longer exists but the site is marked by a Calvary CWGC has John as the battalion's sole death on 4th March.



Cecil was found here





photo: Rodney Gibson



Cecil Feakes is buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, grave 8:O:2

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK