Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Andrew Wynter, a retired Army Colonel, born on the 17th October 1847 in St. John’s College, Oxford, who was the son of the Reverend Philip, and his wife Diana Anne Wynter, and his wife Annie Hippolyta Wynter (nee Rawson, married on the 23rd December 1880 at St. George, Hanover Square, Westminster, Middlesex), born 1847 in Manchester, Lancashire. Cecil Domville was born in the 4th quarter of 1883 in Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, his siblings were, Henry Walter, born 1882 in Oxford, Violet Anne Philippa, born 1884 and John Rawson, born on the 6th October 1885, the latter two siblings were both born in Stanton Harcourt, and Edith Evelyn Diana, born 1887 in Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Little Rissington, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire. In March 1901 Cecil was a student at Eton College and was residing as a boarder in Barns Pool Terrace Eton, Buckinghamshire. In April 1911 Cecil was absent from the family home at Long Close, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a retired Army Colonel, and his siblings Violet and Edith.
The War Diary records: 27 Oct-15 – NEAR VERMELLES. 2.30 am. In answer to “BM.48S” the Commanding Officer went to Brigade Headquarters and received verbal instructions to push the Battalion forward 500 yards to another line of captured German trenches, relieving any troops that might happen to be there. This was done, although it was nearly broad daylight before the move was completed. The Battalion was then disposed thus, from right to left No.3, No.2, No.1, with No.4 in reserve in 1a back line joined to the front line by a communication trench. 9.30am. In accordance with instructions received from the Brigade, patrols were pushed out by No.2 and No.3 Companies. They both reported being unable to get to the HULLUCH – LOOS road on account of rifle fire. Sergeant McLOUGHLIN (No.3 Company) did especially good work on this patrol. 10.00 am. In accordance with orders received the 4 Commanding Officers of 2nd Guards Brigade met the Brigadier at 1st Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS Headquarters. He took them to a point just North of LOOS from which they could see the CHALK PIT and wood and PUITS 14 BIS (Square H.25). He said that he proposed to attack these points as follows. At 2.30pm a heavy artillery bombardment was to be made on them. At 4.00pm 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS were to advance on to the CHALK PIT and wood and to establish themselves on the North, North East and South East faces of the wood. 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS were to support this attack. The 1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS were to advance echeloned to the right rear of 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS and to attack PUITS 14 BIS moving round the South side of CHALK PIT WOOD, 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS bringing a heavy covering fire on to the PUITS to assist them. Four machine guns from the Brigade MACHINE GUN COMPANY were to accompany the 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS and to assist them with this covering fire. The 3rd Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS were to support the 1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS in this operation. 2.40 pm. The Commanding Officer having returned from this conference issued orders as follows to the 4 Company Commanders, pointing out the places on the ground:- No.3 Company (Captain WYNTER) to advance with its right flank directed on the Southern point of CHALK PIT WOOD, try to establish itself on the further side of the wood and dig in. No.2 Company (Captain BIRD) to advance on left of No.3, straight at the centre of the wood and to continue No.3 Company’s line on the further edge of the wood, right up to and including the CHALK PIT. These 2 Companies were to leave their trenches at 3.50pm and both to get into position in front of their trenches lying down, and ready to rise and advance at 4.00pm. Both Companies were to adopt the same formation viz. one platoon extended in front as a line of skirmishers, and the other 3 platoons of each Company, each platoon in column of fours and separated from one another. As soon as these 2 Companies had cleared the trenches No.1 and No.4 Companies were to close to their right up the trench and at 4.00pm when the leading 2 Companies advanced, they were to leave their trenches in the same way as No.3 and No.2 Companies had done and to advance in rear of these 2 Companies, No.1 in rear of No.3, and No.4 in rear of No.2. A few casualties occurred from shell fire during the process of deploying the 2 leading Companies but at 4.00pm they advanced to the attack keeping their direction and their formation perfectly. The other 2 Companies then deployed and followed. The Commanding Officer and Battalion staff went forward by an old German communication to the HULLUCH – LOOS road which runs parallel to and about 260 yards distant from the North West edge of CHALK PIT WOOD and there they met the two supporting Companies as they came up. The Companies advanced rapidly and without hesitation and gained the further edge of the wood with small loss. No.1 Company was pushed forward to thicken No.3 Company’s line on the right, and 2 platoons of No.4 Company went in, in rear of No.2. While digging in on further side of the wood 2nd Lieutenant Pakenham Law was wounded in the neck and subsequently died from the effects of this wound in hospital. 4.45pm. As the left of the line did not appear to have extended as far as the CHALK PIT the Commanding Officer ordered the 2 remaining platoons which were just coming up, to bear off to their left and to seize and hold the CHALK PIT. Meanwhile 1st Battalion SCOTS GUARDS had come up partly round and partly through the right flank of the 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS and had captured PUITS 14 BIS. 2nd Lieutenant’s CLIFFORD and KIPLING and some few Irish Guardsmen had also gone forward with this party, and had reached a line just beyond the PUITS buildings. While there according to the evidence of No.6346 Corporal RUSSITER (No.2 Company) and No.5824 Private POWER (No.2 Company) 2nd Lieutenant CLIFFORD was shot and wounded or killed. Also while there, according to the evidence of No.5838 Private GREEN (No.2 Company) 2nd Lieutenant KIPLING was wounded. These 2 officers were subsequently missing, shortly before 5.00am the men in and beyond the PUITS commenced to retire, and fell back into and through CHALK PIT WOOD in some confusion. The Commanding Officer and Adjutant went forward through the wood to clear up the situation, and while going through the wood, Captain and Adjutant, The Honourable T. VESEY was wounded and carried away. Almost at the same moment and before the Commanding Officer had reached the further edge of the wood, the men from the PUITS came streaming back through the wood, followed by a great part of the IRISH GUARDS line which had been digging in on the further side of the wood. Efforts to stop them in the wood or on the near edge of the wood proved futile, but the line was reformed along the HULLUCH – LOOS road. Two Companies of 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS had in the meantime arrived in the hollow just North West of this road, in response to a message sent by the Commanding Officer to 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS asking for support. 5.15pm. Orders were now issued for the line to again advance up to and through the wood to re-establish themselves in the line which was thought to be abandoned when a message arrived by hand from Captain ALEXANDER stating that he was still in the trenches and required more men up there. A portion of the line was therefore sent up from the HULLUCH – LOOS road to the further side of the wood and the remainder of the line was sent up to the near side of the wood in support. The front line was divided into 3 sections from right to left under Officers as follows:- Captain ALEXANDER, Captain BIRD, Captain HUBBARD. 6.00pm. 2 Companies 1st COLDSTREAM GUARDS came up on left of 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS and seized and established themselves in the CHALK PIT. During the night the men got well down into the hard chalk soil although they had few tools to do it with other than their entrenching implement. Support trenches were also dug in rear of the wood, and some 100 men of various regiments were collected by the Commanding Officer and blocked in an old German communication trench as there was a gap between the left of 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS and the troops next to them (1st GUARDS BRIGADE) through which the enemy might attack the 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS in rear.
The War Diary records: 28 Sept-15 – NEAR VERMELLES. 11.05pm. Commanding Officer sent a message to Brigade Headquarters explaining the position in front in detail. The 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS trenches were subjected to a very heavy but luckily, not very accurate shelling at intervals throughout the day. 2nd Lieutenant SASSOON was wounded early in the morning of Thursday by a rifle bullet. 3.45pm. 1st Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS attacked PUITS 14 BIS but without success. The situation therefore throughout the night was as before working -?- -?- -?-. It rained throughout the night.
The War Diary records: 29 Sept-15 – NEAR VERMELLES. Heavy and accurate shelling throughout the morning. Many shells pitched actually on to the trenches burying many men and blowing a few to pieces. Despite this the casualties for the day amounted to only about 20, all of which were caused by shell fire. 4.30pm. Message received from 3rd GUARDS BRIGADE (on 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS right) to say that Germans were massing in BOIS HUGO and front of the Battalion. All ranks were warned but no attack took place. The artillery claimed to have broken up this German attempt by their shell fire on to BOIS HUGO. 6.00pm. 2nd Brigade sent a message to say that CHALK PIT WOOD must be held at all costs, that there would probably be no reliefs for 2 days, that certain modifications in the Brigade line were to take place. As it transpired these did not affect 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS.
The War Diary records: 30 Sept-15 – NEAR VERMELLES. Shelling was again as accurate and heavy as yesterday. 11.00pm. The welcome news arrived that the Brigade was to be relieved. NORFOLK REGIMENT relieved 2nd Battalion IRISH GUARDS. The night was dark and wet, it was nearly midnight before the relief was completed. On relief the Battalion marched via SAILLY LA BOURSE to billets at VERQUIGNEUIL where they arrived very wet, dirty, and exhausted. Before leaving a fatigue party of 50 men under 2nd Lieutenant TALLENTS was detailed to dig a communication trench from near the southern edge of CHALK PIT WOOD North West to a line of trenches and dugouts just North of LOOS (ie; from G.30.B.5.1. to G.30.A.4.9.) This party dug from about 8.00pm till nearly midnight when 2nd Lieutenant TALLENTS decided to stop as the men were physically incapable of further effort. The total casualties in the Battalion during the period 27 – 30th September were:-
2nd Lieutenant PAKENHAM LAW, died of wounds.
Captain and Adjutant Hon. T. VESEY, wounded.
Captain WYNTER, wounded.
Lieutenant STEVENS, wounded.
2nd Lieutenant CLIFFORD, missing probably killed.
2nd Lieutenant KIPLING, wounded and missing.
2nd Lieutenant SASSOON, wounded.
2nd Lieutenant GRAYSON, wounded (shock).
Other ranks.
Killed, 25.
Wounded, 198.
Missing, 101.
Total 324.
The majority of the 101 “missing” were eventually found to have been admitted to some Field Ambulance wounded.
On Friday, October 8th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – MILITARY FUNERAL AT WOODHOUSE EAVES. – Capt. Cecil Wynter, of the Irish Guards. – The funeral of Captain Cecil Domville Wynter, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, took place yesterday (Thursday) at St. Paul’s Church, Woodhouse Eaves. The deceased officer was 32 years old, and died in a London hospital on Tuesday, of wounds received in France on Sept. 27th. He was the second son of Colonel Wynter, of Woodhouse Eaves, and was educated at Eton. He served in the South African War with the Sussex Militia, and received the Queen’s Medal and two clasps. Until recently he had been living in the Argentine Republic, and married in 1913, Margaret Constance, daughter of Mr. Hope Gibson, of Buenos Ayres. On the outbreak of the present war he returned to this country, and obtained a commission as lieutenant in the Irish Guards, and was promoted captain in the 2nd Battalion. The remains, enclosed in an oak coffin, were brought to Woodhouse Eaves on Wednesday night, and rested in the church, covered with a Union Jack, on which were the deceased officer’s head-dress, sword and South African medal. The service yesterday was attended by a large number of friends, the Woodhouse V.T.C. forming a guard of honour from the church to the grave, which was in the new portion of the churchyard. A bearer party and buglers from the Irish Guards attended. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. I. W. Hiley (vicar) and Rev. A. W. King (vicar of Old Woodhouse), and included the hymns “Hark, hark, my soul,” and “The Saints of God,” Before the service the organist, Mr. Frank Storer, played “I waited for the Lord” (Mendelssohn), “In tears of grief,” (from “St. Matthew’s Passion”), and afterwards “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Handel). The chief mourners were: Mrs. Cecil Wynter (widow), Col. and Mrs. Walter Wynter (father and mother), Mrs. W. F. Martin and Mrs. Diana Wynter (sisters), Mrs. Morrell, Miss Rawson, Mrs. Davis Lockwood, Mr. Everard Wynter, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gibson, Mr. Christopher Gibson, Mr. Ernest Gibson, Mr. John Waddell, Mrs. Robt. Martin, the Venerable Archdeacon Hodges, and Captain Chas. Martin. Amongst those present were the following officers of the Irish Guards: Col. Proby, Capt. Fitzgerald, Lieut. Walker, Lieut. Gough, Lieut. Innes, Lieut. A. Paget, and Lieut. R. Paget; also Mr. Curzon Herrick, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hammersley, Dr. and Mrs. Unitt, Dr. and Mrs. Tuckett, Major and Mrs. Heygate, Mrs. Heygate (Roecliffe), Col. Dashwood, Miss Barclay, Mrs. W. A. King, Mr. A. J. W. Hiley, Miss Wade, Major Baines, Mr. B. H. G. Fox, and the Rev. G. Murray Dixon. Besides the family wreaths were tributes from Dea, Uncle, Nan and Andy; Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibson, Miss Gladys Gibson, Miss Rawson, Katie and Irene, Arthur Gibson, Molly Saunders and Louie Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Garrod, Major and Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Waddell, George and Ethel Corbett, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett and family, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Martin and Bob, The Misses Hoffman, the committee of the Woodhouse Eaves Tobacco Fund, the Misses Mackern, Mr. and Mrs. Byass, his Brother Officers, Major and Mrs. Doddington, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gibson, Colonel and Lady Margaret Proby, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Carlisle, Dr. and Mrs. Tuckett, staff of Gibson Bros. (Buenos Ayres), Phyllis and Jack Sumner, Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull, Captain Claud Heygate, Major and Mrs. Heygate, Woodhouse Eaves V.T.C., Mr. and Mrs. Hammersley, Mr. and Mrs. A. Turner, Mr. and the Misses Fox, Miss Nancy Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. Bennie, Major and Mrs. Eardley Childers, Mrs. Waddell, Major and Mrs. Boyd, the indoor servants at Long Close, William Stockwell and his wife and Willoughby, the servants at 33, Rutland-gate, S.W.
On Friday October 15th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – MOUNTSORREL. – MUFFLED PEAL. As a token of respect to the late Captain C. D. Wynter, of the Irish Guards, brother of Mrs. W. F. Martin, and to the local lads who have recently fallen in France, a peal of grandaire doubles (-?- changes) with bells half muffled, was rung at St. Peter’s Church on Saturday evening. The peal was conducted by Mr. T. Colins.