Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Slingsby, a quarry worker, born 1852 in Groby, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Slingsby (¬nee Chapman, married on the 28th November 1881 in St. Mary de Castro Church, Leicester), born 1855 in Kilby, Leicestershire. Cecil Sheppard, a schoolboy, was born on the 8th August 1882 in Groby and was baptised on the 4th February 1883 in the Parish Church, Groby, he had one sibling, Thomas Archibald, a schoolboy, born 23rd April 1885 in Groby and baptised on the 29th August 1886 in the Parish Church, Groby, in April 1891 the family home was at Ratby Road, Ratby, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Cecil was employed as a quarry worker and was residing in the family home at Ratby Road, Ratby, together with his father a granite quarry worker his mother and brother, Thomas, a shoe trade worker. In April 1911 Cecil was employed a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home in Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire together with his wife Julia Ellen Slingsby (nee Healey, married on the 24th November 1906 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), a boot trade fitter, born 1886 in Anstey and their children, Pearl, born 28th May 1906, Douglas William, born 26th September 1908 and Harry, born 16th April 1910, all the children were born in Anstey. After the April 1911 census Cecil and Julia also had the following children, Winifred, born 31st August 1913, Doreen, born 9th April 1916 and Audrey, born 19th March 1918, they were all born in Anstey. Cecil was officially registered at birth with the spelling of his second Christian name as Shephard, however he was also variously shown with the spellings Sheppard and Shepherd
Cecil died in January 1920 and was buried in Anstey Cemetery on the 12th January. It is believed that Cecil suffered severe head wounds during the final advances of the war that began on the 3rd November, and it was from the effects of these injuries that he succumbed in January 1920. Cecil’s brother, Thomas Archibald died on the 7th September 1919 and is buried in Groby cemetery.
Cecil enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Anstey, and was allotted the regimental service number 120061. He gave his place of birth as Groby, Leicestershire and age as 32 years 90 days, and his trade or calling as shoes.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 11th July 1915 and recorded his declared age as 35 years, that he was 5-feet 5½ inches in height, weighed 224 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches, his complexion was described as dull, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was dark brown and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as Mrs. Julia Slingsby, Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Anstey. 10/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 10/12/15.
Mobilised. At Leicester. 1/7/18.
Posted. To 4th Bn. Sherwood Foresters, Sunderland. 3/7/18.
Posted. To Infantry Base Depot. British Expeditionary Force, France. Pte. 29/10/18.
Embarked. From Dover. 30/10/18.
Disembarked. Calais. 30/10/18.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters. 30/10/18.
Posted. To 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters. In the Field. 2/11/18.
Discharged. To “Z” Army Reserve. 10/3/19.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 3 Nov-18 – POMMERUIL. The following officers joined the Battalion upon first appointments. 2nd Lieutenant’s R. P. PRATT, J. D. WALL, J. MORRALL, J. A. BURNS, R. BAILEY, R. P. STEPHENSON, V. L. ROWE, L. J. GOOSENS.
The Commanding Officer along with the Company Commanders went to MALGARNI to reconnoitre positions for a starting point on the 4th instant.
The War Diary records: 4 Nov-18 – POMMERUIL. 03:45. The Battalion moved off from POMMERUIL at Zero minus 2 hours – 03:45 to MALGARNI, where they dug in on the selected positions.
The Brigade’s objective was a line running South East of the RIVER SAMBRE (B.27.d) to a point on the LANDRECIES – MAROILLES Road, the attacking formation being 9th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT on the left and the 11th SHERWOOD FORESTERS on the right from RUE DES JUIFS to RUE DE MARAIS, with the 13th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY in support. The objective of the 75th Brigade was a line running East of LANDRECIES.
A heavy artillery barrage was put down and in places the enemy made a vigorous reply.
After the barrage lifted the Battalion moved across the fields to the shrine on the LE FAUX – LANDRECIES Road and along the road for about 600 yards, where they took up positions in the fields, at right angles to the road as follows.
“A” Company in front, “B” Company in support, “C” Company in reserve. When the 75th Brigade had taken their objective, the Battalion passed through them to the East of LANDRECIES. “A” Company though meeting with a considerable amount of Machine Gun and rifle fire, succeeded in taking up a position on the Western bank of the stream running by ST. ROCH HOSPICE with their right on the Northern side of the LANDRECIES – MAROILLES Road. This Company captured two 4.2 Guns, one Field Gun and 83 prisoners.
“B” Company also succeeded in taking up their allotted position on the Southern side of the LANDRECIES – MAROILLES Road, through G.30.a.3.7 and G.19.c.7.6 although harassed by enemy Machine Gun and rifle fire from their right flank. This Company captured 1 officer, 21 other ranks, 1 Machine Gun and 1 Anti-Tank Rifle.
“C” Company in support (G.23.c.1.1) in practice trenches. Although the bridges had been blown up, the Engineers had got sufficient planks and pontoons (petrol tins) bridges across the river and the canal to enable the Battalion to make the crossings and quickly.
17:30. The three Companies concentrated at 17:30 hours at the road junction G.30.a.9.8, when this was taking place, a large mine blew up just in front of “A” Company, making a large crater in the centre of the road, but happily did not cause any casualties. “A” Company pushed out outposts along the LANDRECIES – MAROILLES Road at a distance of 1400 yards from the road junction. “B” Company pushed out along the road to BOUTLLETTE FARM. “C” Company being posted on the right flank towards SAULE BRYANTE. Two machine Guns were brought up to protect the flank, on the left flank “A” Company were in close touch with the 9th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, the 13th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY being in support.
The outpost line ran from G.30 central along grid line to H.25 central, H.25.2.2 to H.19.d.2.7. Patrols were sent out and a number of the enemy were killed and driven back from the farm buildings. 3 prisoners were taken during the night. Casualties. Other ranks killed 2. Wounded 4. 2nd Lieutenant’s R. McHALE and G. H. KEEBLE joined the Battalion.