Cecil Henry Dundas died of wounds on this day in 1915

Cecil Henry Dundas was born on 7 January 1892 in Birkenhead. He was the 4th son of Sir George Whyte Melville Dundas  and Lady Matilda Louisa Mary (née Wilson). He was descended from Sir David Dundas, G.C.B., Commander of the Forces 1809-1811.

In 1901, age 9, he was living at a place called "The Kennels" in Bray in Berkshire with father, mother and older brother Robert. His father was described as a Poultry Farmer in the 1901 Census. Cecil attended Bedford Grammar School from 1902-05.

In 1908, Cecil's father inherited the title of 5th Baronet of Beechwood, along with the Dundas family home of Dunira, Comrie, Perthshire.

From 1905-10, Cecil attended Fettes College in Edinburgh. The family had presumably now moved from Bray to Dunira in Comrie (although they sold this family home before 1920 and moved to Comrie House, also in Comrie).

At Fettes College, he was in the Gymnasium VIII and enjoyed shooting, cricket, football, golf and tennis.

On 20 September 1911, Cecil was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in The Welsh Regiment and, on 13 August 1913 he was promoted to Lieutenant. He served with the regiment in Cairo, Khartoum and in India.

in 1913, he and another officer of the Battalion were sent from Khartoum into the Bahr el Ghazal district on a survey expedition to find the waterway connecting the Rivers Lolle and Jur to facilitate and shorten communication with Wau and Khartoum in the rainy season. This entailed their going through country where no European had ever been before.

From the outbreak of war, he served with the BEF in France and Flanders. By February 1915, they were in trenches in the Ypres Salient. On the 19th, he was sent to make a daylight reconnaissance of a new line of trenches north of the canal.

Whilst on reconnaissance Cecil was wounded and died the following day,  20 February 1915. He was 23 years old.

His Captain wrote to his parents:

"He was in my company at Cairo, Khartoum and in India, and has always been one of the best. His nature was so bright and sunny and nothing ever seemed to ruffle him. In the trenches he was always cheery and his good spirits infected his platoon, who were always a happy crowd and used to sing under even the most trying conditions."

He is buried in the Ypres Town Cemetery Extension

Lieut. Cecil Henry Dundas, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment