Alfred Cecil (known as Cecil) was born in Melton in 1884 and baptised in St Andrew’s Church on 13th April that year. In 1911, Cecil was working as a clerk for an auctioneer and living at home with his parents at the Rosary on Station Road, Melton. He was also a keen marksman and involved in the running of Bromeswell Rifle Club.

When war was declared, Cecil did not immediately enlist in the army, waiting until the autumn of 1915 to do so. He joined the Honourable Artillery Company on 4th November 1915, where he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. The Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British army, dating back to 1537. During the First World War, the regiment provided over four thousand officers to other regiments. Cecil was to be one of those commissioned, joining the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 18th December 1916. He was posted to France on 4th February 1917, joining his battalion on the 13th February 1917 at Guillemont Camp.

On the 19th February, the battalion was sent to the front line and their war diary says:

“4:00pm. While going into line the enemy opened a sharp bombardment and 2nd Lieutenants A C Skoulding and J C O Wright were wounded and 3 other ranks killed and 10 wounded.”

Cecil was taken to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station where he died from his wounds on the 21st February 1917, less than three weeks after arriving in France. He was buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meulte, and his family had the following inscribed on his headstone: “

Old Woodbridgian. Good shot, Keen Cricketer. A devoted Son. R.I.P.”

For his war service, Cecil’s family received the British War and Victory Medals. His original battlefield cross is kept at Melton Old Church.