Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Cyril Buglass was born on 3 October 1896 at Ripon, Yorkshire.  His parents, William, a clothiers manager, and Mary Addison (nee Carter) originated from South Shields and had three children, Mabel Elsie (1894), Victor Percival (1896) and Cyril (1898). In the 1901 Scottish Census, they were living at 30 New Bridge Street, Ayr  but the family moved south to Tyneside and Cyril went to school at Royal Jubilee School and Tynemouth Municipal Secondary.  In 1911, the family were together at 7 Milton Terrace, North Shields, Tyneside.

Cyril attested in August 1915, at North Shields aged 19 years.  On 24 August 1915,  his first posting was to the Tyneside Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) Depot as a Gunner and two days later he was posted to No 20 Anti-Aircraft Company at Wardley, Pelow on Tyne.  He applied for commissioning and subsequently joined No 2 Officer Cadet Battalion, Pembroke College, Cambridge.  When passing through Peterborough East Station on 3 June 1917, he had just completed his Officer Training.

Regimental War Diaries record that he joined the 16^th Battalion Northumberland Regiment as a 2^nd Lieutenant on 4 August 1917.  He joined his new Regiment in the trenches near Oost Dunkerke, (Dunkirk).  On 5 December 1917, he transferred and reported for duty with the 12^th Battalion.

‘The Battalion War Diary records that at TRENCHES NEUDECOURT on 21 March 1918,  ‘After heavy bombardment the enemy attacked at 0930 am with very superior forces. Our right Company was overwhelmed and they reach Battalion HQ very quickly killing or taking prisoner the following Officers, Major G White MC, Captain E H Griffin DSO MC (and 4 further Officers)

22-25 March 1918

The Bn fought rear guard actions continuously from Mar 22nd until relieved on Mar 25^th the following Officers becoming casualties (Listed are 3 x Captains, 2 x Lieutenants, 9 x 2^nd Lieutenants including Cyril Buglass) and 424 Other Ranks’

2nd Lieutenant Cyril Buglass (20) died from his wounds on 24 March 1918 in No 34 Casualty Clearing Station and was buried at Marchelepot British Cemetery.  After the Armistice, the burials at Marchelepot were moved to the Roye New British Cemetery.  Cyril was awarded the British War and Allied Victory medals.

On 12 April 1918 the Shields Daily News  reported:

‘Second-lieut. Cyril Buglass Northumberland Fusiliers, who was wounded on March 23rd, and died on the following day, was the younger son of Mr and Mrs W. Buglass, 7 Milton Terrace, North Shields. He joined the R.G.A. as a gunner in 1915 when he was 17 years of age, and after a few months training with the Anti-aircraft Corp, was recommended for a commission. He was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers, went to France last July, and saw much active service. He was home on leave only a month ago. His eldest brother is attached to a Machine Gun Corp., and has been in France two years. In a letter his parents have just received, the nurse who attended him said he was sorely wounded on March 23rd and succumbed to his wounds the following morning. In civil life, Lieut. Buglass was in the employ of Messrs B and F Kidd, Solicitors, Howard Street. He fell during the heroic stand made by the Fighting Fifth and the outset of the German Offensive, the Northumberlands forming part of the British Division which withstood the attack of three enemy divisions and part of a fourth from Chapel Hill to Piesers, and were associated with the Leicesters in holding Chapel Hill. The casualties were very heavy. Cyril was 20 years old’

For more information see http://www.everymanremembered.org/profiles/soldier/580551/

See also: http://www.tynemouthworldwarone.org/database.html

Photograph and information provided with grateful thanks to Christine Ainsley, a desendant of Cyril Buglass.