Name
Cecil Reay Pughe
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40900
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
A.I.F. BURIAL GROUND, FLERS
Plot X, Row E, Grave 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
GRANT THEM EVERLASTING LIFE O LORD
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Oxhey Village Memorial,
Friars School War Memorial, Bangor, Gwynedd
Pre War
Cecil Reay Pughe was born in Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales, in 1886, the youngest son of James William Pughe and Louisa Pughe (nee Brown). His father was a brewer’s agent and the family of three boys and two girls grew up in Wales. Thomas Ripley (1881), Kenneth Mackenzie (1883), Louisa Gladys (1884), and Natalie (1891).
His parents married 17 July 1879 at the Cathedral Church, Bangor, Gwynedd. James died 1912 in Oxhey aged 64, and was buried 8 March at St James’, Bushey, Herts; Louisa died 1932 in Oxhey aged 80, and was buried 9 August, also at St James.
1891 Census records Cecil aged 4, living with his parents, and four siblings at “Fronkenlog Villas”, Holyhead Road, Bangor, Caernarvonshire. The family had two live-in Domestic Servants.
1901 Census records Cecil aged 14, living with his parents and four siblings at 17, Craigydon Road, Bangor. He attended Friars School in Bangor.
All three boys worked as railway clerks and during the 1900s the family moved to Hertfordshire. They set up a family home at ‘Silverstone’, 39 Capel Road, Oxhey, a house on a development known originally as New Bushey. It was built on land owned by the London and North Western Railway Company and many of the terraced cottages were occupied by railway workers. Thomas and Kenneth Pughe found employment with the London and North Western Railway Company and Cecil with the South East and Chatham Railway.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 39383 or 39382 Northamptonshire Regiment. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Cecil’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Cecil in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 October 1918.
The value of his effects were £6-3s-11d, Pay Owing and £4-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his mother Louisa. She also chose he headstone inscription: "GRANT THEM EVERLASTING LIFE O LORD". At that time she was recorded as of Silverstone, Caple Road, Oxhey, Watford, Herts. Son of James William and Louisa Pughe, of "Silverstone", Capel Rd., Oxhey, Watford. Also see ‘Additional Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
