CAPTAIN CHARLES CECIL STANFIELD, 3rd BATTALION THE EAST KENT REGIMENT (THE BUFFS).


CAPTAIN CHARLES CECIL STANFIELD, 3rd BATTALION THE EAST KENT REGIMENT (THE BUFFS). DIED 31st MAY 1917. AGED 33



Cecil Stanfield came from a notable and wealthy family from Bradford who had made their fortune as the issuer of stamps for the Inland Revenue. Born the son of Charles and Blanche Stanfield in a large house at Apperley Bridge, the family moved to Ilkley when Cecil was very young. After living at various houses across the town they eventually took residence at The Red House on Parish Ghyll Drive. As a young child, Cecil, attended Ghyll Royd a prep school in the town before being sent to the famous public school at Shrewsbury. In 1903 Cecil attained matriculation for Oxford University and was sent to Exeter College.


Graduating from Oxford in 1907 Cecil's immediate movements are unknown, however, by 1910 he had been gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The East Kent Regiment. The choice of this regiment may have been influenced by the family’s decision to move from Ilkley to Folkestone. 

At the outbreak of WW1 Cecil was now a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion when they were sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. The fighting during the early months of the war were severe and 20th October Cecil was with his battalion when he was badly wounded near to the village of Radinghem in northern France.
 
Recuperation kept Cecil in England until late 1915 when he was posted to a composite battalion of the East and West Kent Regiment serving in Gallipoli. As that disastrous campaign came to a close and with failing health, Cecil, was posted to the 11th Officer Cadet Battalion at Pirbright where he was in charge of officer recruits. 

On the 31st May 1917 the injuries suffered in 1914 caught up with Cecil and he died from spinal meningitis. Buried with full military honours, today he lies in the military Cemetery at Aldershot.












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