Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Bott a farm labourer, born 19th March 1853 in Naseby, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 8th May 1853 in the Parish Church, Naseby, and his wife Jane Bott (nee Gethen, married in the 2nd quarter of 1880 in the Brixworth, Northamptonshire district), born 1855 in Shropshire. On the 16th September 1885 in Naseby, Cecil’s mother died, aged 31. In the 4th quarter of 1886 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district, Cecil’s father married Susannah Gray. Cecil Thomas Gethen was born on the 16th September 1883 in Naseby, he had one sibling Edith Eleanor, born 29th August 1881 in Naseby and half blood siblings, Elizabeth Jane, born 1887, Francis John G., born 18th April 1889 and Laurence Jesse, born 1891, all his half blood siblings were born in Naseby, in April 1891 the family home was at School Lane, Naseby. In March 1901 Cecil was employed as an agricultural labourer and was residing in the family home at 55, School Lane, Naseby, together with his father, an agricultural labourer, his step mother Susannah, born 15th July 1863 in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire and his half blood siblings, Elizabeth, Francis, Catherine Frances A., born 8th July 1892, Amelia, born 30th June 1894, Harold Jesse, born 25th August 1896 and Frederick Victor, born 1st February 1899, the latter four half blood siblings were all born in Naseby. In April 1911 Cecil was employed as a farm waggoner and was residing in the family home at 49, High Street, Naseby, together with his father, a general labourer, his step mother and half blood siblings, Francis, Harold, Victor and Howard, born 24th August 1903 in Naseby. On the 2nd October 1912 Cecil married Hilda Chester Alderman in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district, Hilda was born on the 6th June 1889.They had two children, Hilda Eliza, born on the 30th October 1913 and Mary, born on the 23rd May 1917. On the 4th March 1918 Hilda was awarded a weekly widows pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence and an additional 9 shillings and 2 pence for her two children.
Cecil also had a sister Amy, who was born and died in 1885 in Naseby and his half blood sibling Laurence, died in July 1891 in Northamptonshire. His father died in 1922 in Naseby.
In 1939 Cecil’s widow was residing in the family home in Theddingworth, Leicestershire, together with their daughter Mary, a Co-operative Society drapery department cashier, also residing in the family home was Cecil’s widowed mother in law, Eliza Alderman, born 12th July 1856.
Cecil’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment being allotted the service number 36824 with the rank of Private, and on a date unknown, he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and allotted the service number 66506 with the rank of Private. It is not clear whether he entered the theatre of war in France with the Leicestershire Regiment or with the Royal Fusiliers, but all indications are that he disembarked in France after December 31st 1915. He was killed in action between the 31st July and the 7th August 1917, and I have reproduced information from the war diaries to cover that period, and additionally the Appendix that gives an account of the action in which the 32nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers were engaged. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 31 Jul-17 – DE ZOA CAMP – VOORMEZEELE. Weather very wet and cold. The Battalion were in reserve for the attack occupying the following positions:-
[a] MIDDLESEX LANE from General Headquarters 2nd Line to VORRMEZEELE SWITCH.
[b] General Headquarters 2nd Line from BRASSERIE – ELZENWALLE ROAD to MIDDLESEX LANE.
Battalion Headquarters were established in General Headquarters 2nd Line at H.36.c.9.4.
Casualties during the day were 2 killed. 1 Died of wounds. 3 Wounded.
Strength during the month.
Maximum strength during month 38 Officers. 971 Other Ranks.
Minimum strength during the month 31 Officers. 757 Other Ranks.
Present strength 38 Officers. 964 Other Ranks.
Casualties during the month of July.
Killed 2 Other Ranks.
Wounded 1 Officer. 29 Other Ranks.
Missing nil.
Died of wounds 3 Other Ranks.
The War Diary records: 1 Aug-17 – GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 2nd LINE. Battalion Divisional Reserve for attack. Weather very wet and cold. H.36.c.9.4.
The War Diary records: 2 Aug-17 - GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 2nd LINE. Battalion remained in position. Enemy artillery active. Weather continued to be unsettled.
The War Diary records: 3 Aug-17 - GENERAL HEADQUARTERS 2nd LINE. Weather slightly improved. Battalion remained in position during the morning. In the afternoon and evening Companies moved up to relieve 26th Battalion ROYAL FUSILIERS and 21st Battalion KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS in the Front Line. Enemy very active, causing casualties.
The War Diary records: 4 Aug-17 – KLEIN ZILLEBEKE. Relief completed. Battalion holding line in the neighbourhood of KLEIN ZILLEBEKE. The General Officer Commanding received a communication from the Army Commander saying he was “fully conscious of the stiff time the officers and men were having and that he was very pleased with the spirit shown by all ranks.”
The War Diary records: 5 Aug-17 – KLEIN ZILLEBEKE. At dawn enemy made strong counter-attack under cover of thick mist. Report on attack attached. Enemy artillery very active throughout the day, causing many casualties. Weather fine.
The War Diary records: 6 Aug-17 - KLEIN ZILLEBEKE. On the night 6/7th Battalion was relieved by the 21st Battalion KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. Enemy artillery active, gas shells being sent over during relief.
The War Diary records: 7 Aug-17 – Relief completed at 5.00am. Battalion in rest camp in neighbourhood of ELZENWALLE CHATEAU. Day spent in cleaning up and resting. Weather fine and sunny. Open air concert by Battalion party.
Casualties during the action of 31/7/17 – 7/8/17.
Killed 2 Officers. 41 Other Ranks.
Died of wounds 1 Officer. 6 Other Ranks.
Wounded 4 Officers. 84 Other Ranks.
Missing 3 Other Ranks.
Total 7 Officers. 134 Other Ranks.
APPENDIX.
32nd (S) Battalion THE ROYAL FUSILIERS.
REPORT ON ENEMY ATTACK ON MORNING 5th AUGUST 1917 ON BATTALION FRONT.
PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENT: [1] At 2.00am the enemy commenced shelling our forward area heavily. At 3.03am this increased to an intense bombardment, with shelling of back areas.
WEATHER: [2] At this period and throughout the action, there was dense fog.
LISTENING POST: [3] At 4.00am advanced Listening post in front of our left Company withdrew to our front line with information that the enemy was advancing on our line.
ENEMY ATTACH: [4] Ten minutes later the barrage lifted on our Support line and the attack developed under cover of the fog and smoke bombs. So far as this Battalion is concerned, the attack was confined to the left half, the extent to the left of that not being known. The frontal attack was held off by rifle and Lewis Gun fire, but a break-through on the right of the Battalion on our left allowed a party to get behind our line. Half a dozen of the enemy were dealt with there and several further attempts were made on our front and left flank, but the line was held in its entirety and the attack stopped at 6.00am.
REINFORCEMENTS: [5] Major Robinson who had been inspecting the line during the night and was present throughout the action, went back and brought back personally two platoons from the supports during the attack. Other reinforcements were sent up from Battalion Headquarters (vice para. 8).
ENEMY DIGGING IN: [6] After 6.00pm the enemy were seen to be digging themselves in on a line about 150 yards in front of the left half Battalion and he opened Machine Gun fire which rendered movement difficult and caused casualties. This was replied to by rifle and Lewis Gun fire which was seen to cause him losses, as was the case with our rifle fire during the attack itself, the men having made such use of them that they became too hot to hold and several bolts jammed. The enemy’s digging was interfered with as much as possible.
SITUATION NORMAL: [7] By 6.30am the situation had become normal, though it was uncertain what the position on the left flank was. It was ascertained at midday that the enemy occupied about 100 yards of JEHOVAH TRENCH, viz. north of the Klein-Zillebeke Road.
COMMUNICATION: [8] At 4.00am the enemy’s barrage was suspected of being on our front, but the only means of communication besides runners, viz. visual, was rendered impossible by the fog. A power buzzer sent up the day before had not yet been got into working order. The first information from the front line was received by runner at 5.35am.
REINFORCEMENTS FROM HEADQUARTERS: [9] Two platoons were forthwith ordered up from the reserve Company under Captain Thorburn, who was instructed to carry out a counter attack if necessary, otherwise to remain as a reinforcement. The two supporting platoons of the left Company were found to have been called up by the Battalion of our left and were not available. The situation arose from the fact that the position taken over by them from the outgoing Battalion was west of the Klein-Zillebeke Road, therefore out of our area. At 5.50am a telephone line was run out from Battalion Headquarters to the visual station at I.36.d.05.65 and half an hour later the Battalion Signalling Officer was sent out to lay on a new line from there to the front line. By 7.00am communication was through but very shortly the wire to the Visual station from Headquarters was cut to pieces. Both Battalion and Company runners were used freely after 6.00am and rendered valuable service though slow.
ARTILLERY (ENEMY): [10] The bombardment was very severe and the whole area back to Battalion Headquarters was heavily shelled rendering the movement of reinforcements difficult.
OUR ARTILLERY: [11] At 4.30am a slow rate of fire was obtained through the Artillery Liaison Officer and shortly after counter battery work was begun. The enemy however did not decrease his fire and counter battery work was continued until midday.
MENTION: [12] I wish to draw your attention to the fire behaviour of the Officers and men concerned in repelling the counter attack. Major Robinson D.S.O. who was inspecting the line at the time organised the defence and took a personal share in the fighting, particularly when leading a few men against the party of the enemy which had got round to the rear of the centre post in the forward line and killing half of them and dispersing the remainder, after both the Lewis Guns on his flanks had been put out of action. His already proven qualities as a fighting soldier made his presence invaluable and his courage and coolness was most inspiring. I cannot speak too highly of this Officer.
Captain H. L. KIRBY commanding the Company involved showed splendid courage and resource. He was severely wounded by a bullet in the hand early in the action, but carried on until well after the situation had become normal, in spite of severe pain.
2nd Lieutenant G. W. MURRELL was severely wounded in three places in the right hand and arm, but carried on through the action and was eventually the only officer on that sector not being relieved until 12 hours after the attack. His behaviour and personal bravery was splendid throughout.
The other officers concerned, who also did very fine work were:
2nd Lieutenant C. F. COOK (killed).
2nd Lieutenant H. W. HUTTON who was wounded but carried on.
2nd Lieutenant F. H. KENNER (wounded in the shoulder and carried on).
Acting Captain J. M. THORBURN who brought up reinforcement from the Reserve Company and was very severely wounded (since died of wounds).
OFFICER CASUALTIES: Killed 1. Died of Wounds 1. Wounded 4.
REPORT BY SERGEANT CLARK:
About a quarter to four our advanced bombing post sent back warning by a runner that the enemy were advancing on left front. The Post fired and withdrew to the Strong Post Line, when the Lewis Guns and rifles opened fire. Major Robinson sent me about 4.00am on right flank with Lewis Gun team. I had not until then seen any of the enemy. About 4.10am a barrage was dropped all round the Strong Point and kept on for 10 minutes, when it lifted to Support Line. I then heard our men open fire, which was maintained for several minutes. I could still see no signs of the enemy and posted one team thus:-
Myself and No.1 watching front. 2 men half right,1 man half left and 1 man watching rear.
The first warning I had that they were behind us was from the man watching behind, who shouted and fell forward. I saw about 12 Germans advancing towards us from the rear, having got round our left flank. We fired a magazine at them with the Lewis Gun and withdrew towards the Support Line, as we were not in touch with anything. We withdrew about 10 yards at a time and opened fire at each halt. When we reached the Support Line they were “standing to” but had not seen the “S.O.S.” I told Sergeant FOSTER and he gave me a runner to go to Battalion Headquarters. The Lewis Gun team were attached to Support Line.