CECIL EGERTON HEDGES

 1899 – 1918

The death of Cecil Egerton Hedges is commemorated on the War Memorial in St. Egbert’s Church, Bicester, Oxfordshire

He was born 29^th January 1899 in Sheep Street, Bicester to George Henry Hedges who was then an assistant draper at John Baker & Son, Market Hill, Bicester, and Mary Ann (nee MacKay) the daughter of another draper in Bicester’s Sheep Street. 

Private Cecil Egerton Hedges enlisted in the Cyclists' Corps attached to the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars in March 1917, but was transferred to the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and then to the Worcestershire Regiment, regimental numbers 31305, 57380.

 His obituary says he died in France, but his British Army Medal Rolls card is blank for "Theatre of War first served in".  According to his sister-in-law Mary Hedges (nee Dixon), he never saw active service.   Cecil died 15^th July 1918 and his death is recorded in the third quarter of 1918 St. Albans Registration District where he died after a swimming accident in his training camp. 

On 18^th June 1918, less than a month before he died Cecil wrote a letter home from King George Hospital, Saturday afternoon.

Dear M, safe home at last and in good hands.  I cannot use my right hand or either legs at present (spinal paralasis I think) DON’T WORRY!!  I’m ALRIGHT!!  COME UP and SEE ME SOON.

WITH LOVE  Cecil.  

His shaky writing is more like that of a 100 year old rather than a boy of 19, presumably because he had to write with his left hand rather than his right.

Cecil was awarded Victory and British War medals.

There is a new family gravestone in the non-conformist area of Bicester cemetery with the wording

 In loving memory of dear Cecil, youngest son of George William and Mary Ann Hedges

who entered the homeland Jul 15^th 1918, aged 19 years.

“Death is a port whereby we pass to life”.