No.TF/5997, Private, Cecil Jabez T. CURTIS
Aged 24
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Cecil Jabez T. Curtis was born in Isleham in 1892 (Newmarket Q1-1892 3B:528), son of Joseph Payne and Mercy CURTIS (née TAYLOR).
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Pound Lane, Isleham with his father Joseph P CURTIS [40] a carpenter, born in Fordham; his mother Mercy [38]; sisters Eva [16], Lavinia [13] and Ruby [7]. All except Joseph were born in Isleham. 1911 census...Aged 19, a gardener's labourer, he was at Park View, Pound Lane, Isleham with his parents and sisters Eva Mercy and Ruby Ella. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. As part of the 56th (1st London) Division, in early September they took over the line east of Guillemont, opposite Bouleaux and Leuze Woods. Here the eventual objective was to push through the woods, and take Combles beyond. This fighting continued until 26th September, when Combles was finally taken by the Londoners.The 15th to 18th saw the greatest number of killed for the 1/8th Middlesex, 13 on the 17th Cecil was buried, with some others, NE of Combles, then in 1920 they were moved to their current resting place in the extension to Combles Communal Cemetery east of the village. The Cambridge Independent Press of 6th October 1916 reported:- Mr, and Mrs. J.P.Curtis, of Park View, have received news from the War Office that their son, Pte Cecil Curtis of the Middlesex Regt. was killed in action on September 17th.Much regret has been caused by the news throughout the whole parish, where Pte.Curtis was well known and highly respected. Also reported under "Isleham" was the death of Ernest Simmons..of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, he was born in Isleham in 1895, son of Samuel and Elizabeth A SIMMONS (née STOKES), but by 1901 they had moved to Peterborough. |
In Isleham Band 1906, courtesy Ann Diver
Cecil's original grave
photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details