16th London Regiment (Westminster Rifles),
1 June 1918
(Queen’s Westminster RIfles)
Synopsis of Life and Military Service
Early Life in Plaistow
Cyril Ernest Duce was born on 4 December 1892 at Plaistow, in what is now the London Borough of Newham. He was the son of William John and Esther Duce and was baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Plaistow, on 15 January 1893. Nothing is known about his earlier education.
His father worked as a commercial traveller selling drapery. Cyril’s mother, Esther, died on 31 January 1910, when Cyril was seventeen years old.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the eighteen-year-old Cyril was working as a clerk for a wine merchant.
Cyril also had connections with his local church community. He had formerly been attached to Plaistow Congregational Sunday School and was later a member of Balaam Street Church.
Sometime in the last three months of 1915, he married Ivy Allan Bridge at West Ham, London, their home being at 122 Central Park Road, East Ham.
Joining the London Regiment
The date Cyril entered military service is not known. His six-digit service number, 551417, dates from the Territorial Force renumbering introduced in 1917, although this does not establish when he originally enlisted. He enlisted at Westminster and served with B Company of the 1/16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles).
Cyril was sent to France and Flanders on 12 September 1917. The battalion formed part of the 169th Brigade of the 56th (London) Division.
During the months that followed, the battalion served in some of the most fiercely contested areas of the Western Front. Its movements included service in the Ypres sector during the autumn of 1917, followed by the Battle of Cambrai and the subsequent winter in the Arras sector. In March 1918, the 56th Division faced the German Spring Offensive around Arras, before the front once again settled into a period of trench warfare.
It cannot be assumed that Cyril was present with his battalion throughout all of these operations. A contemporary newspaper account records that during his time on the Western Front he was wounded and, after recovering and returning to the line, was later gassed. He subsequently spent a period with a field ambulance before once again returning to the Front.
The same account indicates that Cyril had experienced some of the fierce fighting of this period and that during his service he had been promoted to Sergeant.
The Arras Sector – June 1918
By the beginning of June 1918, Cyril had returned to his battalion in the Arras sector.
The war diary of the 16th London Regiment provides a detailed account of what happened on 1 June.
There was some German shelling of the Support Line during the day with 4.2-inch and 77mm artillery. At 9 p.m., British artillery was due to open a barrage in support of a raid being carried out by the Kensingtons in the Left Brigade Sector.
About a minute before the British barrage began, however, the Germans opened fire.
The battalion war diary recorded:
“About a minute before our barrage commenced the enemy dropped a light barrage on HONEY LANE and TELEGRAPH SWITCH, lasting till about 10 p.m.”
The battalion suffered two Other Ranks killed. Second Lieutenant C. W. Anderson and three Other Ranks were wounded, while another six men were recorded as sick.
One of the two men killed was Sergeant Cyril Ernest Duce.
Killed by a Shell
The circumstances of Cyril’s death were reported at home less than two weeks later.
Under its Roll of Honour on 14 June 1918, the East Ham Recorder reported his death, although his surname was incorrectly printed as “Druce”.
The newspaper stated that Cyril had returned to the Front following his earlier wound and subsequent gassing and reported that on 1 June:
“he was killed by a shell”
His body had been buried in a military cemetery near Arras. The newspaper concluded by reporting that much sympathy was felt for his young widow and relatives.
Four days later, the East End News and London Shipping Chronicle also reported the death in action of Sergeant C. E. Duce, recalling his association with Plaistow Congregational Sunday School and his later membership of Balaam Street Church.
Dainville British Cemetery
Sergeant Cyril Ernest Duce was buried at Dainville British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
He was 25 years old and had been serving in France and Flanders for less than nine months.
The battalion war diary does not name the two Other Ranks killed on 1 June, but when read alongside the contemporary newspaper report it provides the immediate circumstances surrounding Cyril’s death: German artillery falling on the battalion’s positions shortly before the British barrage began, and the subsequent report at home that Cyril had been killed by a shell.
Cyril’s Estate
Following his death, Cyril’s estate was valued at £202. Probate records give his address as 122 Central Park Road, East Ham, Essex, and record that his effects passed to his wife, Ivy Allan Duce, on 28 September 1918.
Cyril had left civilian life as a wine merchant’s clerk to serve with the Queen’s Westminster Rifles. During his relatively short period on the Western Front he had been wounded, recovered and returned to his unit, been gassed and spent time with a field ambulance before once again returning to the fighting.
His final return to his battalion ended on 1 June 1918, when the 25-year-old Sergeant was killed by German shellfire near Arras.
Family
Cyril Ernest Duce was born on 4 December 1892 at Plaistow, Newham, Essex. The following family information is taken from the 1901, 1911 Census and Pension Cards. His family is shown as follows :-
- Wife: Ivy Allen Bridge or Duce, born 3 June 1894 at West Ham, London.
- Father: William John, born c.1850 at Bethnal Green. – Drapery Commenrcial Traveller. d.8/4/1930
- Mother: Esther Annie., born c.1859 at Stepney, London. d.31/1/1910
- Sister: Ada Annie Duce or Hudson., born c.1880 at Plaistow, Essex. – Wool Winder.
- Sister: Alice E., born c.1882 at Plaistow, Essex. – Wool Winder.
- Brother: William Alfred., born c.1885 at Plaistow, Essex. – Office Boy at Solicitors.
- Brother: Charles Frederick., born c.1892 at Plaistow, Essex. – Advert Agent.
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for Cyril Duce :-
- 1901: 97 Western Road, London.
- 1911: 97 Western Road, London.
- 1918: 122 Central Park Road, East Ham, London.
CWGC records later gave Ivy’s address as :-
- 110 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate
Medals
Cyril Duce was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.
Memorials
Cyril Duce is honoured and remembered on the following memorial :-
- Family Headstone, West Ham Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Forest Gate, Newham.
Remarks
Links to Additional Information
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Cyril Ernest Duce.
- Find a Grave: Cyril Ernest Duce.
- A Street Near You website: Cyril Ernest Duce.
- Lives of the First World War: Cyril Ernest Duce.
References
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- 1901 Census. (Ancestry)
- 1911 Census. (Ancestry)
- Soldiers Died in the Great War. (Ancestry)
- Medal Index Card. (Ancestry)
- Pension Cards. (Western Front Association)
- Register of Soldiers Effects. (Ancestry)
- Family Headstone. (IWM War Memorials Register)
- Medal Roll: 16th London Regiment. (Ancestry)
- Essex Births and Baptisms. (Ancestry)
- National Probate Calendar. (Ancestry)
- Register of Marriages 1915. (Ancestry)
Groups
- He is not currently attached to any groups.
Contributors:- Vincent Stuart (Main Story)
