L/Cpl
Cecil Ernest Covill
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 19/02/1896 |
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Place of birth: Lewisham, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Bank Messenger |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 23213 |
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Enlistment place: Deptford, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Ypres, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Plot: III Row: A Grave: 14 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal — 31/10/1919 |
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British War Medal Medal — 02/09/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 02/09/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Cecil Ernest Covill was born in 1896. He was the third son of Frederick and Deborah Covill, of Lewisham, Kent. He was employed at the Eastern Bank, before enlisting in August 1914. Cecil served in Flanders and France with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, part of the 100th brigade, of the 33rd Division.
After having seen action in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge and the Battle of Polygon Wood the 33rd Division moved to northern France, to recuperate from the Battle of Passchendaele. On 16 November 1917 the 2nd Worcestershire moved back to the Ypres Salient. On 29 November Cecil’s Battalion occupied support positions at Seine Farm. The following day the men skirted the Passchendaele Ridge and occupied frontline trenches, immediately east of the ruins of Passchendaele. The situation at the front was pretty quiet, until 2 December, when a minor operation on the Battalion’s left, provoked the German artillery to shell the frontline. The Battalion remained in the line till the night of the 3rd of December, when it was relieved.
Lance Corporal Cecil Ernest Covill was gravely wounded, while his unit held the heights of Passchendaele. The 21-year old was evacuated to Ypres, where he died of his wounds. Cecil was buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
After having seen action in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge and the Battle of Polygon Wood the 33rd Division moved to northern France, to recuperate from the Battle of Passchendaele. On 16 November 1917 the 2nd Worcestershire moved back to the Ypres Salient. On 29 November Cecil’s Battalion occupied support positions at Seine Farm. The following day the men skirted the Passchendaele Ridge and occupied frontline trenches, immediately east of the ruins of Passchendaele. The situation at the front was pretty quiet, until 2 December, when a minor operation on the Battalion’s left, provoked the German artillery to shell the frontline. The Battalion remained in the line till the night of the 3rd of December, when it was relieved.
Lance Corporal Cecil Ernest Covill was gravely wounded, while his unit held the heights of Passchendaele. The 21-year old was evacuated to Ypres, where he died of his wounds. Cecil was buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
Sources 5
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"The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War", Stacke H.F., Kidderminster, G. T. Cheshire & Sons Ltd., 1929, pg. 300-301. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/98727/covill,-cecil-ernest/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |