Pte
Cecil Love
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 04/05/1879 |
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Place of birth: London (City), Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Profession: Fireman (steam engine) |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 38721 |
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Enlistment date: 04/10/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Wellington Regiment, 3nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Gravenstafel, Passendale, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 38 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot, New Zealand Apse Panel: 7 A |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Cecil Love was the son of George and Julia Love. His father was born in India, his mother in London, UK. Like his mother, Cecil was also born in London. He was brought into the world on 4 May 1879. In 1901, he married Selina and together they had 3 children. Cecil worked as a fireman for a steam engine. Around 1913, Cecil emigrated to New Zealand. He lived in Onehunga, Auckland. On 4 October 1916, Cecil enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He belonged to the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment (4 New Zealand Brigade, New Zealand Division).
Cecil was killed on 4 October 1917 at the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On that day, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment took part in an attack with the aim of advancing beyond ‘s Gravenstafel. After the 3rd Battalion Otago Regiment had taken the first objective, located just before ‘s Gravenstafel, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment had to cross past them in order to advance to the second objective beyond ’s Gravenstafel and towards the Stroombeek. To do so, they had to take, among others, ‘s Gravenstafel itself, Berlin Pill boxes and Waterloo Farm. While the first objective was consolidated, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment took up their positions behind that first objective. At the start of the attack, the battalion advanced eastwards towards the Ravebeek. The positions causing delay could be eliminated, but there were many casualties. Two companies managed to reach the objective and dug in. The reserve company also had to advance to fill a gap in the front line. Some 500 yards before the positions of the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment, the Germans gathered for a counterattack, but their advance was prevented by Allied artillery. On 5 October, consolidation of the acquired positions continued, the wounded were brought in and the dead were buried. Finally, the battalion was relieved.
Cecil Love died at the age of 38 during this attack. It is not known where he was buried, nor was his body recovered or identified after the war. His name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, New Zealand Apse (panel 6).
Cecil was killed on 4 October 1917 at the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On that day, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment took part in an attack with the aim of advancing beyond ‘s Gravenstafel. After the 3rd Battalion Otago Regiment had taken the first objective, located just before ‘s Gravenstafel, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment had to cross past them in order to advance to the second objective beyond ’s Gravenstafel and towards the Stroombeek. To do so, they had to take, among others, ‘s Gravenstafel itself, Berlin Pill boxes and Waterloo Farm. While the first objective was consolidated, the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment took up their positions behind that first objective. At the start of the attack, the battalion advanced eastwards towards the Ravebeek. The positions causing delay could be eliminated, but there were many casualties. Two companies managed to reach the objective and dug in. The reserve company also had to advance to fill a gap in the front line. Some 500 yards before the positions of the 3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment, the Germans gathered for a counterattack, but their advance was prevented by Allied artillery. On 5 October, consolidation of the acquired positions continued, the wounded were brought in and the dead were buried. Finally, the battalion was relieved.
Cecil Love died at the age of 38 during this attack. It is not known where he was buried, nor was his body recovered or identified after the war. His name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, New Zealand Apse (panel 6).
Sources 4
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3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment (New Zealand Archives, Wellington (ANZ), R23696352). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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Cunningham W.H., Treadwell C.A.L.Hanna J.S. The Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 1914-1919 (Uckfield: the Naval & Military Press), 213-223. Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 112-113. Sources used |
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New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R10920630). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/847821 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d6ef69aa-142b-47e7-8ff6-11ca3ec3156b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7178315 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C8942 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=150779 |