Cecil was born in in 1893. His father was John Henry Bateman (a Northop man) and his mother was Helen C Bateman. The 1901 census tells us that the family was living in Upton, Cheshire where the father John H was a carter on a farm.  In 1901 there were 5 children at home. Herbert 11 had been born in Northop, Cecil Henry was 8 and had been born in Birkenhead, The next three children were born in Wrexham (Malcolm A was 6, Dorris Elsie was 3 and George was 10).

(A glance back at the 1891 census tells us that the family had lived in Florence St, Birkenhead where John H had been an Insurance Agent. Here there were 3 children (Lennox was 4, Percival was 1 and William was 2)

The 1911 census places the family at Blacon House Cottage, Saughall Road, Chester. The father John was now 52 and still a farm worker. His wife Helen was 45 and living with them were the following children – Lennox 24 yrs a foreman baker, Hubert 21 a grocer’s assistant, Cecil 18 an Ironmonger’s assistant, Malcolm 15 was a baker’s assistant and the rest were at school -Doris 13, George 11 and Pamela 9. The 1911 census tells us that Helen Bateman had had 8 children in total and they were all still living so in theory one was not living at home. (But two are unaccounted for. William who would have been 22 and Percival who would have been 21 are not listed )

Cecil joined the army in 1916. His Attestation papers were signed in Seaforth (Liverpool) on 21st October 1916 when he was 23 years and 167 days old. His trade was ‘ironmonger’  at Munitions North, Haymarket, Liverpool. He gives as his next of kin his father, John Henry Bateman who was by now back to his roots living at Mynachlog Farm in Northop.

Cecil served as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium between 15th June 1917 until his death on 7th September 1917.

There is correspondence between the army and Cecil’s father that tells us that Cecil’s personal effects were sent to him at Mynachlog. These were a disc (his ID disc presumably), letters, locket and chain, copper ring, badge, knife, wallet, two registration cards, photos, notebook, belt, 3 coins, 2 notes (defaced) worth 3 francs. How sad.