Cecil Harold Sewell VC

b. 27/01/1895 Greenwich, London. d. 29/08/1918 Fremicourt, France.

Cecil Harold Sewell (1895-1918) was born on 27th January 1895 at 34 Royal Hill, Greenwich, London. Joe, as he was more commonly known, was the son of Harry Bolton Sewell. Harry was from Ramsgate, Kent and worked as a railway clerk, who later became a solicitor and barrister. In later life he was the County Coroner for West Kent. Harry married Mary Ann “Polly” Kemp on 19th March 1882, at Stockwell, Lambeth, London. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on 13th December 1915 and served in the Balkans and Mesopotamia. Cecil had eight siblings. Two of his brothers, Harry and Herbert, also perish in the Great War.

Cecil H Sewell VC

Cecil was educated at Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, London 1907-July 1912, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He then studied law at London University and was articled to his father with a view to becoming a solicitor in 1912.

Cecil enlisted in 21st (4th Public Schools Battalion) Royal Fusiliers at Ashtead, Epsom, Surrey on 23rd November 1914, described as a law student. He was posted to Clipstone Camp, near Mansfield. The Battalion formed part of 98th Infantry Brigade on 27th April 1915. He went to France on 14th November. On 10th March 1916 he applied for a commission while serving in the Machine Gun Section and was posted to No 1 Officer Cadet Battalion at Newton Ferrers, Devon on 24th March. He was commissioned in 3rd Royal West Kent at Fort Darland, Chatham, Kent on 5th August. He returned to France on 18th September, where he transferred to 1st Royal West Kent on 22nd September. He was attached to C Battalion, Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps on 23rd December, which later became 3rd Battalion, Tank Corps. Cecil attended a Second Army Anti-Gas School course and a 6 pounder course. He was promoted to lieutenant in Machine Gun Corps on 5th February 1918.

On 29th August 1918, near Bapaume, France, during the last “Big Push” which eventually led to the Armistice, Lieutenant Sewell’s section was advancing towards the German lines in support of New Zealand troops. The official V.C. citation in the London Gazette of 29th October 1918 takes up the story. “When in command of a section of Whippet light tanks in action this officer displayed most conspicuous bravery and initiative in getting out of his own tank and crossing open ground under heavy shell and machine-gun fire to rescue the crew of another Whippet of his section which had side slipped into a large shell-hole, overturned and taken fire.” The tank’s door had become jammed against the side of the shell hole so Cecil Sewell dug away the earth so that the door could be opened and the crew was able to escape.

Seeing one of his own crew lying wounded behind his tank, he again dashed across open ground to his assistance. He was hit in doing so, but succeeded in reaching the tank when a few minutes later he was again hit, fatally, in the act of dressing his wounded driver. During the whole of this period he was within full view and short range of the enemy machine guns and rifle-pits, and throughout, by his prompt and heroic action, showed an utter disregard for his own personal safety.

He was buried where he fell alongside his driver, Gunner Knox, but in 1920 they were re-interred at Vaulx Hill Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. His parents were presented with his VC by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 13th December 1918. He was commemorated with his Whippet tank, Caesar II, displayed at the Tank Museum, Bovington Camp, Dorset, on the family memorial at Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich, London, and with VC commemorative stones at Greenwich Park, Crooms Hill, London and Dulwich College.

In addition to the VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19. The medals were donated by his sisters, Ethel Maud Sewell and Victoria Ruth Annis, to the Royal Tank Regiment, where they are displayed at the Tank Museum in Bovington Camp, Dorset.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: BOVINGTON TANK MUSEUM, BOVINGTON, DORSET.

BURIAL PLACE: VAULX HILL CEMETERY, VAULX-VRAUCOURT, FRANCE.

PLOT I, ROW D, GRAVE 3.