Cecil Gott
Cecil Gott worked as a journeyman/baker in the family business
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
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Cecil Gott was the son of John Morris Gott and his wife Elizabeth (nee Harriss).
Both parents were born in Helpingham, Lincolnshire; John in 1855 and Elizabeth in 1854. They were married in 1876 (JFM Sleaford) and had at least two sons, Ernest b. 18 June 1877 in Helpingham and Cecil b. 1884 in Nottingham.
Ernest appears to have married in 1898, Ernest Gott to Sarah Elizabeth Harriss, 1898 (JFM Nottingham), with the birth of a son, Harold Morris, in 1899 (AMJ Nottingham). However, there is also a record of the death of a Sarah Elizabeth Gott in 1900 (OND Sleaford).
At the time of the 1901 Census the Gott family was living at 27 Queens Road, Meadows, Nottingham. John was a master baker (employer) and his two sons, Ernest and Cecil were working in the business as journeymen/bakers. Ernest's son, Harold Morris (2), was also in the home as well as a servant (journeyman/baker), Arthur Russell (19).
John Morris Gott died at Nottingham, aged 50, on 27 December 1905.
Ernest Gott married Mary Elizabeth Simms (b. 18 August 1884) in 1908 (JFM) and in 1911 he and his wife, their three children, Horace (2) and six-month old twins Ruth and Phyllis, together with Ernest's son, Harold, by his first marriage, were living with Ernest's widowed mother at 1 Pinder's House Road, Meadows. Elizabeth was described as the head of household. Her occupation was given as baker and Ernest was also a baker assisting in the business.
Cecil was still working as a baker in the family business, but on the night of the 1911 Census he was recorded as a visitor at 7 Crocus Street, Meadows, the home of Percy Swallow, a master grocer.
Cecil married Ada Hooley in 1913 (AMJ); there were no children of the marriage. At the time of Cecil's death in 1918 he and Ada were living at 70 Trafalgar Street, Nottingham. Ada died the following year on 27 February 1919 aged 31; she was still living at 70 Trafalgar Street.
Elizabeth Gott died aged 79 in 1934 (buried 28 February Nottingham General Cemetery). She was still living at 1 Pinder’s House Road at the time of her death.
Cecil's brother Ernest continued to live at 1 Pinder's House Road after his mother's death and he and his wife Mary were recorded at this address on the 1939 England and Wales Register; Ernest had retired as a baker. Also in the household was Ada Doris Gott (later Pounder) b. 19 October 1920, Ernest and Mary's daughter. Ernest died in 1951 (buried 28 July).
Enlisted at Nottingham. Served in the 1st Bn The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (Previously served as 33632 Private in the General Service Enlistment Cavalry).
The 1st Battalion The Queen's Own 'deployed from Ireland to France at the outbreak of the First World War (1914-18) in August 1914 ... (the 1st Battalion) briefly deployed to Italy between November 1917 and April 1918, before returning to the Western Front for the remainder of the conflict. ' (www.nam.ac.uk/explore/queens-own-royal-west-kent-regiment)
Cecil died on 9 May 1918 from wounds received in action (machine gun fire) and is buried in the Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes, Nord, France (grave ref. 2.C.9).
CWGC history of Tannay British Cemetery (extract): Thiennes is about 8km from the town of Aire-sur-la-Lys. 'It was not until the German offensive of April 1918, by which Merville was overwhelmed and the German line brought past it along the Lys nearly as far as St. Venant, that Thiennes became a place of British burials. On the 10th of that month the first death occurred in the 13th Field Ambulance (belonging to the 5th Division) during its service at Tannay, and thenceforward until the first week in August 5th Division units carried out almost all the burials in Tannay British Cemetery. Row D of Plot II contains only men of the 1st East Surreys who died in May; Rows D and E of Plot IV only men of the 2nd K.O.S.B. who died on the 28th (or in one case the 30th) June; and Row G of Plot IV only men of the 14th Royal Warwicks who died on the 8th July. In Rows C, D and E of Plot V the 61st (South Midland) Division made the majority of the graves, in the middle weeks of August.
CWGC Additional information: Son of John Morriss Gott and Elizabeth Gott, of Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Only those who have loved and lost can understand war's bitter cost'
Commemorated on St. Saviours Church Roll of Honour, Arkwright Street, Nottingham (Pte. C. Gott) and St. Peter's Church, St. Peter's Street, Old Radford, Nottingham Roll of Honour (C. Gott).
Inscription family gravestone, Nottingham General Cemetery: ‘In loving memory of Ruth, dearly loved wife of JW Green, who died Sept. 21st 1918, aged 40 years. Rest after weariness, peace after pain. And of Cecil Gott, killed in action in France, May 9th 1918, aged 33 years. He nobly answered duty’s call. Also of Ada Gott, dearly loved wife of the above, who died Feby, 27th 1919 aged 31 years. To be reunited when the morning dawns and the shadows flee away.’
Nottingham Evening Post 'Roll of Honour', 11 June 1918:
'Gott. Killed in action May 9th, by machine gun, my dearly loved husband, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents. A cruel blow, a shock so severe, only aching hearts can tell, but his loving spirit will with me forever dwell. – Broken-hearted wife.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, my loving son, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with the one we loved so dear. – Broken-hearted mother and Harold.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, my only brother, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents. 'Tis sweet to know we'll meet again, where partings are no more, and that the one we loved so well, has only gone before. – Brother Ernest, and wife and family.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents, our dear brother-in-law. Loving memories left behind. – Mrs. Ruth Green, and husband in Salonica.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, our loving brother-in-law, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents. A loss too deep for words. – Mr. and Mrs. Cunnington and family.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, our loving brother-in-law, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents. One of the best. – Mr. and Mrs. W. Hooley and Family.'
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents, my dear brother-in-law. Sadly missed. – Mr. J. Hooley.'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 May 1919:
‘Gott. In loving memory of Private C Gott, Royal Queen’s West Kents, killed in action May 9th, 1918. As time goes on we miss him more, we miss his smile, we miss his face, no one can fill his vacant place; O, heavenly star, shine on the grave of one we loved, but could not save. From mother, brother, and family.’
‘Gott. Killed in action May 9th, 1918. Fondly remembered by Mr and Mrs TR Farnsworth and Enid.’
‘Gott. In loving memory of our dear brother-in-law, Pte Gott, killed in action May 9th, 1918. Ever in our thoughts, Mr and Mrs Cunnington and family.’
Similar notices to the above were also published in the Nottingham Evening Post in May 1920. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27 February 1920 (Ada Gott):
‘Gott. In ever-loving memory of our dear sister Ada, who passed away February 27th 1919. We have lost, but Heaven has gained, one of the best the earth contained. From Bob, Fanny, and Enid.’
'Gott. In affectionate remembrance of my dear daughter-in-law, Ada, died February 27th, 1919; also her dear husband, Cecil, died May 9th, 1918, in France. We often think of days gone by, when we were all together, a shadow in our lives is cast, two loved ones gone for ever. Mother, brother, and family.’
'Gott. Loving memory of Ada, who fell asleep February 27th, 1919. Sadly missed. Mother and Joe.’
'Gott in affectionate remembrances of our dear sister, Ada, who died February 27th 1919. A day of remembrance, sad to recall. From Tom, Hannah, and family.’
Probate: Gott John Morris of 1 Pinders-house-road Nottingham baker died 27 December 1905 Administration Nottingham 12 January to Elizabeth Gott widow Effects £124 8s.
Probate: Gott Cecil of 70 Trafalgar-street Nottingham private in HM Army died 9 May 1918 in France Administration (with Will) Nottingham 10 October [1919] to Thomas Robert Farnsworth provision dealer and Harry Thurman solicitor’s clerk. Effects £1023 7s. 6d.
Probate: Gott Ada of 70 Trafalgar-street Nottingham widow died 27 February 1919 Probate Nottingham 27 August to Thomas Robert Farnsworth provision dealer and Harry Thurman solicitor’s managing clerk. Effects £3275 19s. 4d.
Cecil Gott
Family gravestone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Rachel Farrand (Feb. 2019)
Photo of Cecil Gott
Buried in Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes, France (www.cwgc.org)