Rank: Major
Service Number: 45766
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Military Cross
Died: 27th May 1940
Age: 46 years old
Born in Roscommon, Ireland on the 25th August 1893, Cecil was the second son of Lt.-Col. Walter George Raleigh Chichester- Constable, D.L., J.P., formerly of The Yorkshire Regt., and of Edith Florence Mary Chichester-Constable (née Smyth-Pigott). They had married in 1888. Cecil's father was born in 1862, his surname then being just Constable. In January 1895 his surname was legally changed to Chichester-Constable by Royal Licence, after succeeding to the estates of his uncle, Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable. The family are descended from William the Conqueror. The family home was at Burton Constable Hall, Burton Constable, Hull, Yorkshire. Cecil had two brothers Raleigh & Basil and three sisters Violet, Edith and Blanche. Cecil was educated at Stonyhurst College and spoke fluent French. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
Cecil entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1912 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in February 1913. In 1914 he served in France with the British Expeditionary force and fought in the Battle of Mons. During the retreat from Mons he was reported as 'missing' but in fact he had been taken prisoner by the Germans. He was held at Holzminden Prisoner of War Camp in Lower Saxony, Germany. Here the regime was very harsh and it was described as 'the worst camp in Germany'.
As an Officer, he was duty-bound to be uncooperative and he made many heroic attempts to escape. It is reported that on one occasion he threw an ashtray at a German Officer - an act that resulted in an order for his execution. Yet, at the due hour, rather than break down, Cecil took an apple from his pocket, smiled at the firing squad, and ate it. It appears that the German Officer admired his cool and the death sentence was commuted to solitary confinement, which is where he remained until the end of the war. The harrowing experience had such an effect on his physical and mental state that when he eventually returned home his parents barely recognized him.
In 1916 although still a prisoner of war, he was promoted to Captain. After the war he was awarded the Military Cross. This was announced as follows in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 20th January 1920:-
War Office, 30th January, 1920.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned reward in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May, 1919", unless otherwise stated:-
Awarded the Military Cross:-
Captain Cyril Hugh Joseph Chichester-Constable, R. of O., R. War. R.
In 1919 he was promoted to Major but was relinquished of command due to ill health.
A qualified Barrister-at-Law, Cecil often wrote letters to the newspapers regarding the Spanish Civil War in 1938. He assisted in producing a book entitled "The Stonyhurst War Record – a memorial of the part taken by Stonyhurst Men in the Great War."
During WW2, Cecil commanded 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 27th May 1940 found Cecil once again part of a British Expeditionary Force & involved in another British retreat. He was at Wormhoudt, an area of France just south of Dunkirk which was being held by the British Expeditionary Force as a part of the safe corridor for retreat to Dunkirk's beaches and harbour. Several different battalions of British soldiers were in charge of defending the town by delaying the German advance, including battalions from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment and gunners from the Royal Artillery. They were greatly outnumbered and outgunned.
German aircraft were flying over Wormhoudt on their way to Dunkirk and therefore it came as no surprise when they bombed Wormhoudt's town centre. Enemy tanks soon approached. Having held their position for some time and allowed the safe evacuation of thousands of British troops, Cecil ordered the remainder of his men to make their way to Dunkirk to evacuate themselves.
He himself stayed and determined never again to be taken prisoner he was reportedly last seen 'alone & heading towards the enemy with his pistol in his hand'. Although Cecil was killed that day he did not die alone. He died in the company of a German SS Soldier, Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Alfons Dhalhoff. Like Cecil, Alfons was a practising Roman Catholic and Alfons promised to send Cecil's letters home to his family. Alfons was killed the following day, but after the war in 1946, an article was posted in the Daily Telegraph asking for Cecil's next-of-kin to get in contact. Alfon's father had kept the package of letters, as well as Cecil's crucifix, and he sent them to Cecil's uncle along with a photograph of his son, Alfons. These items are now on display in Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire.
Cecil was buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery, his grave now marked by a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Aged 46, the engraving on his headstone and the Cemetery Register list him incorrectly as being 45 years old.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, IWM, National Archives, the Peerage, stylemovienews, Lives of the First World War, Find a Grave Contributor: Paul Manning 46877584, newspaper archives)
(Bio: Woose)
Service Number: 45766
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Military Cross
Died: 27th May 1940
Age: 46 years old
Born in Roscommon, Ireland on the 25th August 1893, Cecil was the second son of Lt.-Col. Walter George Raleigh Chichester- Constable, D.L., J.P., formerly of The Yorkshire Regt., and of Edith Florence Mary Chichester-Constable (née Smyth-Pigott). They had married in 1888. Cecil's father was born in 1862, his surname then being just Constable. In January 1895 his surname was legally changed to Chichester-Constable by Royal Licence, after succeeding to the estates of his uncle, Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable. The family are descended from William the Conqueror. The family home was at Burton Constable Hall, Burton Constable, Hull, Yorkshire. Cecil had two brothers Raleigh & Basil and three sisters Violet, Edith and Blanche. Cecil was educated at Stonyhurst College and spoke fluent French. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
Cecil entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1912 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in February 1913. In 1914 he served in France with the British Expeditionary force and fought in the Battle of Mons. During the retreat from Mons he was reported as 'missing' but in fact he had been taken prisoner by the Germans. He was held at Holzminden Prisoner of War Camp in Lower Saxony, Germany. Here the regime was very harsh and it was described as 'the worst camp in Germany'.
As an Officer, he was duty-bound to be uncooperative and he made many heroic attempts to escape. It is reported that on one occasion he threw an ashtray at a German Officer - an act that resulted in an order for his execution. Yet, at the due hour, rather than break down, Cecil took an apple from his pocket, smiled at the firing squad, and ate it. It appears that the German Officer admired his cool and the death sentence was commuted to solitary confinement, which is where he remained until the end of the war. The harrowing experience had such an effect on his physical and mental state that when he eventually returned home his parents barely recognized him.
In 1916 although still a prisoner of war, he was promoted to Captain. After the war he was awarded the Military Cross. This was announced as follows in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 20th January 1920:-
War Office, 30th January, 1920.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned reward in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May, 1919", unless otherwise stated:-
Awarded the Military Cross:-
Captain Cyril Hugh Joseph Chichester-Constable, R. of O., R. War. R.
In 1919 he was promoted to Major but was relinquished of command due to ill health.
A qualified Barrister-at-Law, Cecil often wrote letters to the newspapers regarding the Spanish Civil War in 1938. He assisted in producing a book entitled "The Stonyhurst War Record – a memorial of the part taken by Stonyhurst Men in the Great War."
During WW2, Cecil commanded 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 27th May 1940 found Cecil once again part of a British Expeditionary Force & involved in another British retreat. He was at Wormhoudt, an area of France just south of Dunkirk which was being held by the British Expeditionary Force as a part of the safe corridor for retreat to Dunkirk's beaches and harbour. Several different battalions of British soldiers were in charge of defending the town by delaying the German advance, including battalions from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment and gunners from the Royal Artillery. They were greatly outnumbered and outgunned.
German aircraft were flying over Wormhoudt on their way to Dunkirk and therefore it came as no surprise when they bombed Wormhoudt's town centre. Enemy tanks soon approached. Having held their position for some time and allowed the safe evacuation of thousands of British troops, Cecil ordered the remainder of his men to make their way to Dunkirk to evacuate themselves.
He himself stayed and determined never again to be taken prisoner he was reportedly last seen 'alone & heading towards the enemy with his pistol in his hand'. Although Cecil was killed that day he did not die alone. He died in the company of a German SS Soldier, Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Alfons Dhalhoff. Like Cecil, Alfons was a practising Roman Catholic and Alfons promised to send Cecil's letters home to his family. Alfons was killed the following day, but after the war in 1946, an article was posted in the Daily Telegraph asking for Cecil's next-of-kin to get in contact. Alfon's father had kept the package of letters, as well as Cecil's crucifix, and he sent them to Cecil's uncle along with a photograph of his son, Alfons. These items are now on display in Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire.
Cecil was buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery, his grave now marked by a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Aged 46, the engraving on his headstone and the Cemetery Register list him incorrectly as being 45 years old.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, IWM, National Archives, the Peerage, stylemovienews, Lives of the First World War, Find a Grave Contributor: Paul Manning 46877584, newspaper archives)
(Bio: Woose)
Rank: Major
Service Number: 45766
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Military Cross
Died: 27th May 1940
Age: 46 years old
Born in Roscommon, Ireland on the 25th August 1893, Cecil was the second son of Lt.-Col. Walter George Raleigh Chichester- Constable, D.L., J.P., formerly of The Yorkshire Regt., and of Edith Florence Mary Chichester-Constable (née Smyth-Pigott). They had married in 1888. Cecil's father was born in 1862, his surname then being just Constable. In January 1895 his surname was legally changed to Chichester-Constable by Royal Licence, after succeeding to the estates of his uncle, Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable. The family are descended from William the Conqueror. The family home was at Burton Constable Hall, Burton Constable, Hull, Yorkshire. Cecil had two brothers Raleigh & Basil and three sisters Violet, Edith and Blanche. Cecil was educated at Stonyhurst College and spoke fluent French. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
Cecil entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1912 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in February 1913. In 1914 he served in France with the British Expeditionary force and fought in the Battle of Mons. During the retreat from Mons he was reported as 'missing' but in fact he had been taken prisoner by the Germans. He was held at Holzminden Prisoner of War Camp in Lower Saxony, Germany. Here the regime was very harsh and it was described as 'the worst camp in Germany'.
As an Officer, he was duty-bound to be uncooperative and he made many heroic attempts to escape. It is reported that on one occasion he threw an ashtray at a German Officer - an act that resulted in an order for his execution. Yet, at the due hour, rather than break down, Cecil took an apple from his pocket, smiled at the firing squad, and ate it. It appears that the German Officer admired his cool and the death sentence was commuted to solitary confinement, which is where he remained until the end of the war. The harrowing experience had such an effect on his physical and mental state that when he eventually returned home his parents barely recognized him.
In 1916 although still a prisoner of war, he was promoted to Captain. After the war he was awarded the Military Cross. This was announced as follows in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 20th January 1920:-
War Office, 30th January, 1920.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned reward in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May, 1919", unless otherwise stated:-
Awarded the Military Cross:-
Captain Cyril Hugh Joseph Chichester-Constable, R. of O., R. War. R.
In 1919 he was promoted to Major but was relinquished of command due to ill health.
A qualified Barrister-at-Law, Cecil often wrote letters to the newspapers regarding the Spanish Civil War in 1938. He assisted in producing a book entitled "The Stonyhurst War Record – a memorial of the part taken by Stonyhurst Men in the Great War."
During WW2, Cecil commanded 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 27th May 1940 found Cecil once again part of a British Expeditionary Force & involved in another British retreat. He was at Wormhoudt, an area of France just south of Dunkirk which was being held by the British Expeditionary Force as a part of the safe corridor for retreat to Dunkirk's beaches and harbour. Several different battalions of British soldiers were in charge of defending the town by delaying the German advance, including battalions from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment and gunners from the Royal Artillery. They were greatly outnumbered and outgunned.
German aircraft were flying over Wormhoudt on their way to Dunkirk and therefore it came as no surprise when they bombed Wormhoudt's town centre. Enemy tanks soon approached. Having held their position for some time and allowed the safe evacuation of thousands of British troops, Cecil ordered the remainder of his men to make their way to Dunkirk to evacuate themselves.
He himself stayed and determined never again to be taken prisoner he was reportedly last seen 'alone & heading towards the enemy with his pistol in his hand'. Although Cecil was killed that day he did not die alone. He died in the company of a German SS Soldier, Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Alfons Dhalhoff. Like Cecil, Alfons was a practising Roman Catholic and Alfons promised to send Cecil's letters home to his family. Alfons was killed the following day, but after the war in 1946, an article was posted in the Daily Telegraph asking for Cecil's next-of-kin to get in contact. Alfon's father had kept the package of letters, as well as Cecil's crucifix, and he sent them to Cecil's uncle along with a photograph of his son, Alfons. These items are now on display in Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire.
Cecil was buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery, his grave now marked by a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Aged 46, the engraving on his headstone and the Cemetery Register list him incorrectly as being 45 years old.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, IWM, National Archives, the Peerage, stylemovienews, Lives of the First World War, Find a Grave Contributor: Paul Manning 46877584, newspaper archives)
(Bio: Woose)
Service Number: 45766
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion.
Awards: Military Cross
Died: 27th May 1940
Age: 46 years old
Born in Roscommon, Ireland on the 25th August 1893, Cecil was the second son of Lt.-Col. Walter George Raleigh Chichester- Constable, D.L., J.P., formerly of The Yorkshire Regt., and of Edith Florence Mary Chichester-Constable (née Smyth-Pigott). They had married in 1888. Cecil's father was born in 1862, his surname then being just Constable. In January 1895 his surname was legally changed to Chichester-Constable by Royal Licence, after succeeding to the estates of his uncle, Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable. The family are descended from William the Conqueror. The family home was at Burton Constable Hall, Burton Constable, Hull, Yorkshire. Cecil had two brothers Raleigh & Basil and three sisters Violet, Edith and Blanche. Cecil was educated at Stonyhurst College and spoke fluent French. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
Cecil entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1912 and was gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in February 1913. In 1914 he served in France with the British Expeditionary force and fought in the Battle of Mons. During the retreat from Mons he was reported as 'missing' but in fact he had been taken prisoner by the Germans. He was held at Holzminden Prisoner of War Camp in Lower Saxony, Germany. Here the regime was very harsh and it was described as 'the worst camp in Germany'.
As an Officer, he was duty-bound to be uncooperative and he made many heroic attempts to escape. It is reported that on one occasion he threw an ashtray at a German Officer - an act that resulted in an order for his execution. Yet, at the due hour, rather than break down, Cecil took an apple from his pocket, smiled at the firing squad, and ate it. It appears that the German Officer admired his cool and the death sentence was commuted to solitary confinement, which is where he remained until the end of the war. The harrowing experience had such an effect on his physical and mental state that when he eventually returned home his parents barely recognized him.
In 1916 although still a prisoner of war, he was promoted to Captain. After the war he was awarded the Military Cross. This was announced as follows in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 20th January 1920:-
War Office, 30th January, 1920.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned reward in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May, 1919", unless otherwise stated:-
Awarded the Military Cross:-
Captain Cyril Hugh Joseph Chichester-Constable, R. of O., R. War. R.
In 1919 he was promoted to Major but was relinquished of command due to ill health.
A qualified Barrister-at-Law, Cecil often wrote letters to the newspapers regarding the Spanish Civil War in 1938. He assisted in producing a book entitled "The Stonyhurst War Record – a memorial of the part taken by Stonyhurst Men in the Great War."
During WW2, Cecil commanded 'A' Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 27th May 1940 found Cecil once again part of a British Expeditionary Force & involved in another British retreat. He was at Wormhoudt, an area of France just south of Dunkirk which was being held by the British Expeditionary Force as a part of the safe corridor for retreat to Dunkirk's beaches and harbour. Several different battalions of British soldiers were in charge of defending the town by delaying the German advance, including battalions from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment and gunners from the Royal Artillery. They were greatly outnumbered and outgunned.
German aircraft were flying over Wormhoudt on their way to Dunkirk and therefore it came as no surprise when they bombed Wormhoudt's town centre. Enemy tanks soon approached. Having held their position for some time and allowed the safe evacuation of thousands of British troops, Cecil ordered the remainder of his men to make their way to Dunkirk to evacuate themselves.
He himself stayed and determined never again to be taken prisoner he was reportedly last seen 'alone & heading towards the enemy with his pistol in his hand'. Although Cecil was killed that day he did not die alone. He died in the company of a German SS Soldier, Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Alfons Dhalhoff. Like Cecil, Alfons was a practising Roman Catholic and Alfons promised to send Cecil's letters home to his family. Alfons was killed the following day, but after the war in 1946, an article was posted in the Daily Telegraph asking for Cecil's next-of-kin to get in contact. Alfon's father had kept the package of letters, as well as Cecil's crucifix, and he sent them to Cecil's uncle along with a photograph of his son, Alfons. These items are now on display in Burton Constable Hall in Yorkshire.
Cecil was buried in Wormhoudt Communal Cemetery, his grave now marked by a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Aged 46, the engraving on his headstone and the Cemetery Register list him incorrectly as being 45 years old.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, IWM, National Archives, the Peerage, stylemovienews, Lives of the First World War, Find a Grave Contributor: Paul Manning 46877584, newspaper archives)
(Bio: Woose)
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