Cecil Herbert Shepherd-Cross 1878–1917

Major, Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (attached to the Machine Gun Corps)

Alderwasley Roll of Honour

Photo courtesy Peter Patilla

Alderwasley Roll of Honour

www.hertsatwar.co.uk

photo of Cecil Shepherd Cross

Derby Daily Telegraph, 15 March 1913
TOWN AND COUNTY GOSSIP
Mr F. C. Hurt JP, of Alderwasley Hall, Wirksworth, the popular Master of the Hurt Foxhound, and Mrs Hurt are leaving Alderwasley shortly before Easter to take up residence in the South Midlands. Mr Hurt’s impending departure is a source of much regret amongst hunting circles in the locality. The new tenants of Alderwasley Hall will be Mr and Mrs Shepherd-Cross, members of a well-known Bolton family. We understand that Mr Hurt’s temporary departure from Alderwasley will not interfere with the Hunt he has maintained in that part of the County during the past few seasons.

Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 6 August 1915
ALDERWASLEY MEN AT THE FRONT
The Wirksworth parish magazine says: – “Since the magazine last came out, a number of our young men have started for the front. E Redfern, in the RFA, has been in hospital; Arthur Lee and Arthur Carrington started for the Dardanelles about July 1; Herbert Petts and Oscar Snow about the middle of the month for France; JHM White, whom we heartily congratulate on his promotion to be captain, left about the same time, having been engaged in Staff work, and the work of embarking troops. May they be in God's keeping and returning safety and with honours gained. Our best congratulations also to be given to George Petts who is now Lance sergt. We were glad to see Capt Shepherd-Cross home on leave and in good health.”

Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 27 October 1917
MAJOR CECIL SHEPHERD CROSS
We sincerely regret to learn of the death of Major Cecil Shepherd-Cross, who died from wounds on October 15 sustained in action on the previous day. The deceased officer, who was 39 years of age, was the second son of the late Mr Herbert Shepherd-Cross, MP of Hemels Park, and was educated at Eton and Oxford. He left University on the outbreak of the Boer War and served in the South African campaign with the Bucks Yeomanry. He was afterwards called to the bar but gave up legal practice for business pursuits, and also followed in his father’s footsteps by interesting himself largely in agriculture. When the present war broke out Major Shepherd-Cross obtained a commission in the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry, but wishing to take a more active part in the war he was transferred to Hodgson’s Horse and later to the Machine Gun Corps having command of the company until recently, when he was made divisional machine-gun officer, in which capacity he taken part in much of the recent heavy fighting in Flanders. The deceased officer will be greatly missed in Derbyshire, where he had resided the past five years, and his delightful personality will be long remembered by many friends in Hertfordshire, where he spent his youth and early manhood. He married Meta, oldest daughter of Col Grundy, who commanded the Warwickshire Regiment, and leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters.

Belper News, 2 November 1917
ALDERWASLEY MAJOR KILLED
The other day much sorrow was caused in Alderwasley and the surrounding district by the news that Major Cecil Herbert Shepherd-Cross had made the supreme sacrifice at the Western Front. Major Shepherd-Cross was in charge of a battery of the Machine Gun Corps. He died of wounds received in the recent battle at a base hospital on Monday, October 15. He leaves a widow and four young children and the sympathy of everyone in the district goes out to them in their great trouble. Special reference was made at all the services at Alderwasley church on Sunday, and appropriate hymns and prayers were used for the occasion. Major Shepherd-Cross came from Lancashire about five years ago to Alderwasley Hall, and he had his family have during their residence at the Hall earned the esteem of all sections of the community in the district. Directly after the war broke out he offered his services and was engaged in the army right up to the time of his death. The late Major Shepherd-Cross always took a great interest in the welfare of Alderwasley, and the commencement of the war he instituted a rifle club for young men and did a lot of work in getting recruits.

CWGC Certificate for Sherpherd Cross

Cecil Herbert Shepherd-Cross's CWGC Certificate

hedstone for Major Shepherd-Cross

Alderwasley Roll of Honour