Name
Cecil Herbert Shepherd-Cross (DSO)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/10/1917
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry
Attached to 197th Coy Machine Gun Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Service Order
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
X. I. 16.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Braughing, St Mary’s Church Golden Book, Braughing, Alderwasley Memorial Cross, Alderwasley Park, Derbyshire
Pre War
Son of Herbert Shepherd-Cross, M.P., and Lucy Shepherd-Cross; husband of Meta Shepherd-Cross, of Gate Helmsley House, York. Born Bolton. His father had also been an officer in the DLOY. He was educated at Temple Grove, Eton and University College, Oxford. He enlisted from Oxford when the South African War broke out and he served through that campaign with the Imperial Yeomanry – he was awarded the Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps and was mentioned in dispatches, after which he was promoted to Lieutenant..
He married Meta of Hopton House, Worksworth, Co of Derby, on 26th Nov 1903. He was called the Bar in 1904 and practised for 2-years, but then went into business related to agriculture. The 1911 census shows his occupation as cotton manufacturer and living in Long Preston in Cheshire along with his wife Meta, three children and nine servants – they had four children in all beween 1907 and 1913 (Michael Herbert, Peter Cecil, Elizabeth and Daphne).
Wartime Service
At the start of war, he volunteered and was made a Captain in the DLOY on 22nd Sept 1914 he wanted a more active role and transferred to Hodson’s Horse and entered the theatre of war in France in April 1915 and was promoted to Major on the 7th. His Sqn later disembarked at Le Havre, France on 23 May 1915, their role being Divisional cavalry for 14 Div. He was then attached to 197 Coy, Machine Gun Corps, 9 Inf Div. as Divisional Machine Gun Officer He died near Ypres following wounded received in action.
Additional Information
His headstone inscription, chosen by Mrs N C Shepherd-Cross, reads: “Nothing but well and fair and what may quiet us in death so noble“.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
