Name
Cyril Myles Brabazon Ponsonby
16 November 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/09/1915
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
Grenadier Guards
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
M V O
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panels 5 - 7
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Codicote memorials
Pre War
The Hon Cyril Myles Brabazon Ponsonby was born 16 November 1881, the second son of 8th Earl of Bessborough and Countess of Bessborough, Edmund Ponsoby and Blanche Vere Ponsonby. He was baptised on 23 December 1881 at All Souls Church, Langham Place, Marylebone, London.
On the 1891 Census although his parents were listed as absent, Cyril was with his brother Vere and six servants at Down Ampney House, Gloucestershire.
He was educated at Harrow and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and on the 1901 Census Cyril was listed at the Victoria Barracks, Windsor and was a 19 year old 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1904 and eventually to Major in May 1915. He was invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1901. Served in operations in the Cape Colony 1902. ADC to Governor & C-in-C, Ceylon, 1903-05, to Inspector General of the Forces 1906-07 and to FM C-In-C, Duke of Connaught, 1907-09.
He married Rita Narcissa Longfield 20 July 1911 at St Luke, Chelsea and they had a son Arthur Mountifort Longfield Ponsonby, born on 11 December 1912, (who became the 11th Earl of Bessborough). Address given as 44 Gloucester Square, Middlesex.
Wartime Service
Cyril was a serving soldier at the outbreak of war and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from September 1914.
He was killed in action on 28 September 1915 while leading the 4th Bn. to retake Hill 70. He was temporarily in command, owing to the CO having been gassed.
Additional Information
Listed in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour. War gratuity of £62 and pay owing of £28 11s 4d received by the Public Trustee. Probate was granted on his will on 1 January 1916 with effects totalling £2363 15s 6d, to his widow, Rita Narcissa Ponsonby, attorney of Windham Baring and Vere Brabazon, Viscount Duncannon. His widow later remarried to Neville A C Flower (Captain in the Grenadier Guards) and lived at Codicote Mill, Welwyn, Herts. Unfortunately, he was killed in a motor accident in 1931.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
