Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Hogg Wartnaby, a farmer, born 1847 in Nether Broughton, Leicestershire and his wife Agnes Esther Wartnaby (nee Brewtnall, married on the 5th May 1880 in the Parish Church, Old Dalby, Leicestershire), born 1860 in Old Dalby, Leicestershire, and who was the daughter of William Brewtnall. George Cecil was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Six Hills, Leicestershire, his siblings were, William Edward, born 1882, Ernest Hogg, born 13th April 1883, Alfred Brewtnall, born 1886 and Arthur Vincent, born 1887, all his siblings were born in Six Hills, in March 1901 the family home was at Six Hills Farm, Seagrave, Leicestershire. In April 1911 George was employed working on the family farm and was residing in the family home at The Oaks Farm, Seagrave, together with his father, a farmer, his mother and siblings, Alfred, working on the family farm, Arthur, working on the family farm and William, working on the family farm, also residing in the family home was William’s wife, Gertrude Mary, born 1894 in Swineshead, Huntingdonshire and their daughter, Gertrude Mary, born 1911 in Six Hills. George was unmarried.
George was educated at Bedford and on leaving school he became a farmer, he enlisted on the 22nd January 1916 and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 21st June 1916 until he was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918, being buried at Ervillers, France. A comrade wrote, “It was a very sad blow to us all when we heard that your son, Driver G. C. Wartnaby, had been killed, and we all offer you our deepest sympathy. As a soldier and a man he was well liked by everyone in the Battery, as he was one that was ever willing to do his duty, he was always cheerful and smiling under any circumstances. I can tell you we have lost a good comrade.” He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 – IN THE FIELD. The night was fairly quiet. During the day the enemy continued his advance and captured VRAUCOURT and VAULX – VRAUCOURT, and was on the outskirts of ST. LEGER. Our infantry are holding the firing line, but they have suffered very heavy casualties and there are several gaps in this line. By the evening the enemy was working his way round to MORY, thus threatening the right flank of the batteries, accordingly during the night they moved out and went into action in A.24.c and d, at TRIANGLE COPSE. In the early hours of the evening Brigade Headquarters moved to BEHAGNIES, so as to be in touch with General Campbell, 120th Infantry Brigade.
On Friday April 19th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. SIX HILLS. – KILLED IN ACTION. – We regret to have to record the death, in his country’s service of George Cecil, the youngest son of Mrs. and the late Edward Hogg Wartnaby, of Six Hills. Deceased who was 24 years of age, was a driver in the R.F.A., and was killed in action on March 22nd. Much sympathy is felt in the neighbourhood for his mother at the loss of so bright and promising a son.