Cecil William Betts

A Private with 7th Bn., Cecil died on 5th of October 1915 at the age of 28. 

Cecil was born at Somerleyton in1887, a son of Charles and Maria Betts. In 1891 his family lived at The Street, Somerleyton, near the Post Office. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Somerleyton, on 14 May 1893, and his family lived at Somerleyton. In 1911 his family lived at The Green, Somerleyton, and Cecil was a house carpenter.  

Cecil volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Great Yarmouth. He joined the Norfolk Regiment and was posted to the 7th Battalion. Cecil arrived at Boulogne, with the battalion, on 31 August 1915. He served with C Company.

In early October 1915 the 7th Battalion were at Loos. At 7 p.m. on 3 October they took over the support, trench, which was the old German communication trench; North Loos Avenue, and the trench just to the east. On 4 October they worked to convert the communications trench into a fire trench and during the day they were subject to bombardment.  

Cecil was one of five men from C Company who were wounded on 4 October 1915. He was evacuated to 37 Field Ambulance where he died of wounds on 5 October. 

Cecil's brother-in-law, Frederick Darkins, served with Bedfordshire Regiment and died in 1918.