Rupert Edward Gascoyne-Cecil was in Ashburnham House from 1908 until 1913. On the outbreak of war he joined the 4th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. By May 1915 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and went out to the Western Front, arriving on 19th. He was wounded on 28th May but had recovered sufficiently to rejoin the regiment 3 weeks later.
On the morning of July 11th 1915 the German forces exploded a mine between two trenches creating a large crater and then continued to shell heavily. On hearing the explosion Rupert tried get to the fire trench of which he was in charge, but was hit by a fragment of shell and died instantly. He was buried close to the Ypres-Cominis line, in the Brigade headquarters cemetery.
His commanding officer wrote “He was only with us a short time, but had endeared himself to all who knew him by his cheerfulness and soldierly qualities”.
Captain Curtis noted “he was always beloved by all his fellow officers, and above all his men, who had great respect for him. We shall feel the loss which the regiment has sustained by his death but we are proud, he was doing his duty so nobly when he was killed. A good many men were stunned and confused by the explosion, but 2nd Lieutenant Cecil remained cool and met his death going to his post”.
A memorial service was held at St Etheldreda’s Church, Hatfield. It was conducted by Cecils’ close friend G.K.A. Bell (OW), then chaplin to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He gave a brief address from the chancel steps:
“We have come together as a family of friends to remember one for whom they could have but a single thought, one whose life was gentle and pure, whose lovable nature drew all hearts to him, and who gave his life for his friend. He died at his post of duty in a foreign land; he was taken before he was tainted with sin. He gave his body in service of his country, but his pure soul to his Captain whom he both loved and served well”.
Rupert enjoyed bell ringing so his parents decided to use the money left on his death towards two new bells to be placed in the tower of St. Etheldreda. They were dedicated in August 1929 by his father, the Bishop of Exeter (Lord William Gascoyne Cecil).