East, CR
(1891 - 1915)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
21st September 1891
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1906 - 1909
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
17 Tyson Road, Forest Hill, SE23
REGIMENT
Honourable Artillery Company
FINAL RANK:
Lance Corporal
DATE OF DEATH:
13th May 1915
AGE AT DEATH:
23
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Mount Kemmel, Ypres
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Voormezeele Enclosure No.3; XIV L 3
Lance Corporal Cecil Roy East
Cecil was born on September 21st 1891, the second son of Frederick and Elizabeth East. His father was director of East, Kinsey, and East, a firm of leather manufacturer’s firm based in Bermondsey, and would later go on to be the Master of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, the City of London Livery Guild for fine leather workers and shoemakers. After his time at Dulwich, he went to the Leather Trades’ School, and subsequently took up a position in his father’s firm. He was also a committed member of the Old Alleynians, being a regular in the 1st XV during the years between 1911 and 1914.
In August 1914, days after War had been declared, Cecil signed up as a Private in the Honourable Artillery Company, with whom he went to France on September 18th, taking a position working on the lines of communication. Before long he had been promoted to the rank of Lance-Corporal, and in November he was sent into the trenches for the first time. Apart from a few days spent back at base ill he had not left the trenches when, on May 13th 1915, he was killed in action at the foot of Mont Kemmel, near Ypres.
