The 1901 census for England and Wales records five year old Cecil E Matthews living in Chailey village.  He is recorded as the grandson of the head of the household, James C Smith. 

The 1901 household comprised James C Smith (head, born in Clapham, married, aged 56, working as a gardener), his wife Mary Ann Smith (aged 53, born in Byworth, Sussex) and three children: William C Smith (aged 21, also working as a gardener), Kate L Smith (aged 16) and Edith B Smith (aged 13).  All three children were born in Weybridge.  Next on the census comes Frank Peacock (nephew), aged eight, born in Charlton, Kent; and finally Cecil (also born in Weybridge). 

There were other children as well.  The 1891 census records a James F Smith (aged 13) and an Arthur G Smith (aged 9).  James was born in Godalming, but Arthur was born in Weybridge and the family was living in Weybridge when the 1891 census was taken.

Going back ten years further still, James C Smith was still working as a gardener (and still in Weybridge).  Two more children, missing on the family census returns for 1891 and 1901, are mentioned.: Ellen Smith (aged 10), born in Tittlelworth, Sussex, and Frederick Smith aged three.  I am guessing that it was Ellen Smith who was Cecil Matthews’s mother (see next of kin information, below).

Cecil Matthews responded to his country’s call within a month of war being declared.  Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that he is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 it adds: Matthews, L-Corpl C, 8th Royal Sussex, France.

In April 1916, the parish magazine notes that Cecil has been invalided, and in November 1916 that he has been discharged.  This information is then repeated up to and including March 1917 after which there are no further references to this man.

Thankfully, a few pages from Cecil’s service record survive in the National Archives in the WO 364 series.  He attested at Lewes as Cecil Edward Matthews, joining the 8th Royal Sussex Regiment on 4th September 1914.  He was given the army service number G/1974.  Cecil was 18 years and 235 days old. His occupation was noted as gardener and his place of birth recorded as Chailey, near the town of Lewes, Sussex, although this is crossed out and West Croydon, Surrey written in its place. 

Cecil was five feet, nine and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and black hair.  His next of kin is recorded as his mother, Nellie Reeves, of 4 Fox Cottage, Seldon Road, West Croydon.

Cecil remained with the Royal Sussex Regiment in England until 23rd July 1915 and the following day sailed for France.  Two months earlier he’d been appointed paid lance-corporal.

He was in France until 5th February 1916 and then between 6th February and 11th September 1916 was back in England.  He was discharged from the army on 11th September 1916.

There is no indication on the papers that survive, why he returned to the UK in February 1916.  The section on his military history sheet where wounds and the effects of these are recorded, are both blank.  Nevertheless, he was awarded a weekly pension of twenty five shillings, conditional for six months.  This would have been a considerable sum in 1916, remembering that the British Tommy received pay of a shilling a day.

Cecil was entitled to the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals.  He received the former on the 11th November 1920, and the latter two on 6th February 1921.  He had already received a silver war badge.

William C Smith and Frank Peacock – both staying at the same household as Cecil when the 1901 census was taken - also served their King and Country during the First World War.

Sources and Acknowledgements

• Census of England and Wales: 1881, 1891 & 1901
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• The National Archives, London