GEDGE Cecil Bertie

Cecil Gedge entered the theatre of war in France on 11th July 1915. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star.

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour:
Gedge, Cecil Bertie, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), attd. Grenadier Coy., Garhwal Brigade, I.A. (Indian Army), only surviving child of Sydney Gedge, of Mitcham Hall, co. Surrey, Solicitor, by his wife, Augusta, dau. of Robert Herring; b. Mitcham Hall aforesaid, 20 Feb. 1866; educated Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A.; was a Barrister, being called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1891, and afterwards practised on the South-Eastern Circuit and at the Essex and Herts Sessions; joined the Sportsman’s Battn. 9 Oct. 1914; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd London Regt. 1 April 1915; went to France in June, when he was attached to the Grenadier Coy., Garhwal Brigade, and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos 25 Sept. following. His Colonel wrote: “He was wounded early in the advance and came back and had his wounds dressed, and then went out again to lead his men, and he has not been seen since. He was a brave English gentleman, and we are glad to think he was one of us…I am very sorry to say I have had strict orders not to send forward for ‘Mention’ and officer who has been killed. If it were not for this very strict rule I should have sent forward your husband’s name,” and a brother officer: “There is one thing that may console you, and that is, your husband showed the greatest courage. He was wounded by shrapnel early in the morning, but refused to go back. He just had his men bind him up, and when the order came to go over the parapet, he led his men over like a hero.” He was a good sportsman, being well known in Switzerland as a curler; was also a keen scholar, and had edited various publications, including “Granta” in 1890, “Huts,” 1902-3, and was sub-editor of Lord Halsbury’s “Laws of Ayland.” He married at St Margaret’s, Westminster, 6 Aug. 1892, Jessie Bickley (Brackondale, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham), 3rd dau. of Bery Bickley Rogers, and had a dau. Sydney Jessie, b. 12. Sept. 1893.

Cecil Gedge has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Loos Memorial.