Long Stratton – St. Michael’s Church (Cyril Edmund August Cheney)

This is the grave of Cyril Edmund August Cheney, one of the two men buried in this churchyard who died of their injuries during the First World War.

Cyril was born in 1899, the only son of Edmund Cheney and Rosa Eva Cheney. Edmund worked as a farmer and they had three children, Olive Flossie Mabel (born in 1898), Cyril and Alma Beatrice (born in 1900). All of the three children were born in Denton, but they moved at around that time to Stratton St. Michael (now part of Long Stratton) and that’s where they are listed on the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

Cyril joined the Royal Horse Artillery in June 1917 (the above photo was likely taken at a similar time), and the RHA is shown on his grave, which is a nicely sculpted stone. He was given service number 61367 and served in the U Battery of the RHA, something akin to a regiment.

Cyril was wounded in France on 3 October 1918 and was taken to Rouen Hospital before then being brought back to the UK for treatment to his injuries. He was sent to the 4th London General Hospital at Denmark Hill (now known as King’s College Hospital), but he died on 26 October 1918, at the age of 20. His probate was completed in February 1919, with his entire wealth of £185 17s being transferred to his father, Edmund.

Cyril’s parents are buried next to him on the same plot, with their stone noting that Edmund died on 11 April 1928 at the age of 62, whilst Eva died on 4 October 1955, at the age of 80. Following Edmund’s death, Eva had moved in with her daughter Olive, who had married the farmer James Brighton, and they all lived at Lime Kiln Farm in Newton Flotman. Olive remained living in Newton Flotman until her death in 1991, over 70 years after the death of her younger brother.