Hon. CECIL, William Amherst


Captain, The Hon William Amherst CECIL M.C. MiD
Aged 28


2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Killed in Action on 16th September 1914


William Amherst Cecil was born on 30th June 1886 (3rd qtr 1886 St George,Hanover Square 1a:426), son of Col. Lord William C.V.O. and Mary Rothes Margaret CECIL(née TYSSEN-AMHERST)(Baroness Amherst of Hackney). He was baptised at Didlington with Colveston, Norfolk on 8th August 1886 when his parents were at Didlington Hall.

1891 census...Aged 4,he was at 87 Queen's Gate, Kensington with his father Lord William Cecil [36] Lt.Col, born Ireland; his mother Mary R.M. [33] born Didlington, Norfolk; brothers Thomas J.A. [3] and John F.A. [9 months] both born Kensington.

1901 census...Aged 14, he is not found in this census, presumably at Eton. His parents were at Didlington Hall.

On 14th April 1910 in London, he married Evelym Gladys BAGGALLAY.

1911 census...Aged 25, Lieutenant in Grenadier Guards, he was at Heatherhurst Grange, Deepcut Road, Frimley Green, Farnborough with his wife Eveleyn at the home of her parents, Henry Charles and Evelyn BAGGALLAY.

They had 2 sons, William Alexander Evering b.May 1912 and Henry Kerr Auchmuty b. 1st April 1914.

His brother Thomas James Amherst CECIL served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and was discharged after a leg amputation.

Stowlangoft Hall was one of several houses of his family, hence his name on the memorial there.

His son Henry Kerr Auchmuty CECIL was killed in 1942 see here


From https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/grenadiewilliamcecil.htm :- William Amherst Cecil was born in London on the 30th June, 1886, the eldest son of Colonel Lord William Cecil, Grenadier Guards, and Lady William Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney, and heir to the Barony. He was educated at Eton, and joined the Grenadier Guards in August, 1907, becoming Lieutenant in July, 1908. For his services in the Great War he was mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of the 8th October, 1914, was awarded the Military Cross, and recommended for the Legion of Honour. He was promoted Captain on the 9th September, 1914. Captain Cecil was at Landrecies in command of the Machine Gun Section of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, and was killed at the Battle of the Aisne on the 16th September, 1914.
Captain Cecil was very keen about his profession, especially everything in relation to machine guns; he was a clever draughtsman and took a special interest in Egyptology, in which he was an expert. He was very musical, played the piano, and also the bagpipes. He was also fond of all sports, particularly cricket, hunting, yachting, and shooting. He was a member of the Guards' and the Junior Carlton clubs. Captain Cecil married in 1910, Evelyn Gladys, only child of Henry Baggallay, Esq., of Heatherhurst Grange, Frimley, Surrey, and left two sons, William Alexander Evering, born May, 1912, who became 3rd Baron Amherst of Hackney and Henry Kerr Auchmuty, born April, 1914, killed in action in 1942 .



Having crossed the River Aisne via a pontoon ridge on 14th, the battalion experienced heavy fighting. On 16h, they were in a battle outpost podstion being heavily shelled by heavy high explosive. Lost 2 officers killed 27 men killed and 43 wounded.,





The burials in Soupir were brought in from north west of Vailly at the end of 1919 .


William Cecil is buried in Soupir Communal Cemetery B:1
also commemorated on the memorial at Foulden, Norfolk.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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