Name
Cyril Sidney Merralls Vale
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42002
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
Plot II, Row E, Grave 35.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Watford Grammar School Memorial,
Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of Reynold(s) VALE of Oxhey, Herts, and the late Elizabeth Ann (nee WATSON) VALE.
His parents married 18 April 1881 at St Mary the Virgin, Dover, Kent. Elizabeth died 1906 in Oxhey aged 52, and was buried 2 June at St James’, Bushey, Herts; Reynold died 9 January 1932 in Oxhey aged 75, and was buried 13 January, also at St James.
Cyril was born 13 June 1899 in Oxhey, and baptised 9 July 1899 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. He attended Watford Grammar School from January 1807 to December 1914, and resided in Oxhey.
On the 1901 Census, aged 1 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a school boy aged 11, he lived in Oxhey, with his widowed father and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received at Aveluy Wood.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Cyril’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 Cyril in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 31 August 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 30 August 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
