Cecil Gott
Cecil Gott worked as a journeyman/baker in the family business
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- Military history
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Cecil Gott was the son of John Morris Gott and his wife Elizabeth (née 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), and their son, Harold Morris, was born in 1899 (AMJ Nottingham). There is 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, b. 1908) and six-month old twins Ruth and Phyllis (b. Sept 1910), together with Ernest's son, Harold, were living with Ernest's widowed mother, Elizabeth, at 1 Pinder's House Road, Meadows. Elizabeth was head of household. Her occupation was given as baker and her son Ernest was also a baker assisting in the business. Phyllis died on 25 December 1912; Ernest and Mary had a third daughter, Ada Doris, on 19 October 1920.
Cecil was still working as a baker in the family business in 1911, but on the night of the Census was recorded as a visitor at 7 Crocus Street, Meadows, the home of Percy Swallow, a master grocer.
Cecil married Ada Hooley, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Ann Hooley of Radford, at Lenton Parish Church on 17 April 1913; both were living at 21 Hartley Street. The two witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Robert Farnsworth and Frances Hooley. There were no children of the marriage. Their home was at 70 Trafalgar Street, Nottingham, and Ada was still living at the same address when she died at the age of 31 from influenza and pneumonia on 27 February 1919.
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, his wife Mary and their daughter Ada Doris were recorded at this address on the 1939 England and Wales Register; Ernest had retired as a baker.
The three other children were now married: Harold Morris to Ethel Binns at North Wilford St Faith on 26 December 1925; Horace to Lillian Jarvis in 1932 and Ruth to Eric Powell Wilson in 1933. Their sister Ada Doris married Albert Pounder in 1949.
Mary Gott died on 8 January 1949 aged 64 and Ernest on 26 July 1951; both were buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. The four children survived them; Harold died in September 1954, Doris Pounder in 2002, Horace in 2003 (reg. June) and Ruth Wilson also probably died the same year.
Enlisted at Nottingham. He served in the 1st Bn The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment); previously 33632 Private, 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).
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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'
WW1 Pension Ledgers record: named his widow, Ada, of 70 Trafalgar Street.
Medal Roll: named his mother, Mrs E Gott, 1 Pinders House Road, Meadows.
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).
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription: ‘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.’
Note: Ruth Green (née Hooley) married James William Green in 1908. She was the sister of Cecil's wife, Ada.
Nottingham General Cemetery, Cecil's parents' grave with commemorations to their son Ernest, wife Mary Elizabeth and daughter Phyllis. Headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of John Morris Gott the beloved husband of Elizabeth Gott (-) who (-) in his 51st year. Also of Elizabeth Gott beloved wife of the above died Feb, 25th 1934 aged 79 years. At Rest. Also of Phyllis Gott grand daughter of the above who died Decr. 25th 1912 aged 2 years 3 months. Asleep in Jesus. Also Mary Elizabeth Gott who died Jan. 8th 1949 aged 64 years. A silent thought, a silent tear, makes your memory ever dear.' Kerb: 'Also Ernest died 26th July 1951.' Separate memorial within curtilage of grave, inscription: 'In loving memory of Pte C Gott, Royal West Kents, killed in action in France May 9th 1918, aged 32 years. Also of Ada, beloved wife of the above who died Feby. 27th 1919, aged 31 years.'
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.' [James William Green]
'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.' [Thomas Edward Cunnington m. 1890 Hannah Hooley, Ruth and Ada's sister).
'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.' [William Hooley]
'Gott. Killed in action, May 9th, Pte. Cecil Gott, Royal West Kents, my dear brother-in-law. Sadly missed. – Mr. J. Hooley.' [John Hooley]
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 May 1919:
(source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
‘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.’ [Thomas Robert Farnsworth m. 1908 Frances Mary Hooley, Ruth and Ada's sister]
‘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.’
'In Memoriam' notices were also published in the Nottingham Evening Post in May 1920.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 February 1919: ‘Gott. On the 27th inst., Ada, the dearly beloved wife of the late Pte. Cecil Gott, of influenza and pneumonia. Reunited.’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 February 1919: ‘Gott. On February 27th, at 70 Trafalgar-street, Radford, Ada, the beloved wife of the late Cecil Gott (killed in action May 9th, 1918). Peace after pain. Sorrowing mother and family.’ [Sarah Hooley]
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27 February 1920 (Ada Gott): (source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
‘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.’ [Robert Thomas and Frances Mary Farnsworth]
'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.’ [probably Elizabeth Gott, Ernest Gott and his family]
'Gott. Loving memory of Ada, who fell asleep February 27th, 1919. Sadly missed. Mother and Joe.’ [probably Sarah's grandson, Joseph Henry Hooley b. 1895, the son of George Hooley and his wife Clara née Key m. 1895]
'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.’ [Cunnington]
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.
Research RF (2026)
Cecil Gott
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave (Ruth Green) commemorating Cecil Gott. Photograph Rachel Farrand (10 Feb. 2019)
Photo of Cecil Gott
Buried in Tannay British Cemetery, Thiennes, France (www.cwgc.org)
Cecil Gott
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave (Ruth Green) with commemoration of Cecil Gott. Gary Crosby (14 January 2026)
Photo of Cecil Gott
Nottingham General Cemetery, private memorial. Photograph Rachel Farrand (24 February 2026)
Photo of Cecil Gott
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone (John & Elizabeth Gott). Photograph Rachel Farrand (24 February 2026)
Photo of Cecil Gott
Nottingham General Cemetery. Memorial in family grave. Photograph Rachel Farrand (24 Feb. 2026)