Cecil Hubert Epps

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

34598

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

November 5th, 1915

Cemetery:

Ste. Marie Cemetery - Seine-Maritime, France - Div. 19.L.3.

Commemorated at:

Scotland Baptist Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Scotland, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

Toronto, Ontario

Next of kin address:

Scotland, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Bank clerk

Employer:

Bank of Toronto

Religious denominations:

Baptist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Died (Enteric Fever) at Isolation Hospital, Havre.

BX November 8, 1915

Private Cecil Hubert Epps, Scotland, died in Havre – Stricken With Enteric Fever – Was Member of Canadian Army Medical Corps, and Was Working With The Corps When He Was Taken Ill – Was a Member of Well Known Family of Scotland and a Very Popular Employee of Bank of Toronto.

To the long list of Brant County’s heroic dead is added the name of Private Cecil Hubert Epps of Scotland, a young man in the prime of life. The official casualty list issued at Ottawa on Sunday afternoon gave his name as one who died while fighting the battle of the Empire. He was a member of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, which he joined in Toronto. In the pursuance of his duties as a worker in the hospital service, reclaiming those stricken through wound or disease, he was himself taken down with enteric which proved so fatal to British troops in South Africa. On Wednesday last his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Epps of Scotland, received word that he was seriously ill, this being the first news they received. On Saturday they were officially notified of his death.

They promptly wired Ottawa, asking if the body could be brought home, but this comfort is denied them for the present, they being informed that this could not be done until after the war.

The late Cecil Epps is a Scotland boy, completing his education at the Brantford Business College. At the conclusion of his successful course he secured a position in the Scotland branch of the Bank of Toronto. He was later transferred to the west, but at the opening of the war he was in the head office of the bank at Toronto. He was of an athletic build having while at Scotland taken a deep interest in baseball and other sports. When the call came from the motherland he answered it, joining the Army Medical Corps. At the time of his death he was with the Canadian General Hospital in Havre, France.

In addition to the stricken parents, he leaves to mourn his loss two brothers, Elmer of Hamilton and Lloyd at home.

A union memorial service will be held on Sunday next at the Scotland Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The members of the Congregational Church will take part in the service.

BX November 7, 1914

From Their Soldier Boy – Mr. and Mrs. Epps of Scotland, Receive Letter From Their Son Cecil

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Epps of Scotland, Ont., Have received the following letter from their son Cecil H. Epps, who joined the Army Service Corps in Toronto and went with the First Contingent to England.

Dear Folks,

I have not had time to write before, I am writing on board ship, but of course, will not be able to post the letter until we land. This trip is something I will remember as long as I live, and I will try to tell you what has happened day by day.

Sept. 26 – On duty all night as ambulance driver

Sept. 27 – Out at 5 a.m. with service wagon for supplies and got back at 10 p.m., when we received orders to prepare for marching orders, to leave at 12 a.m. We had to pack up and march three miles through mud six inches deep and then ride 16 ½ miles in a box car to Quebec. Got there about 5.30 p.m. and did not have anything to eat until the provision wagons arrived about 9 p.m. and had to sleep on cement floors, with only two blankets, one under and one over us, and our kit bags for pillows.

Sept. 28 – Still in the same place. Expected to embark, but did not. Not allowed to go off the line, not even for a drink of coffee. Haven’t had a drink of coffee for a month, nothing but tea and water.

Sept. 29 – Still the same until 10 a.m., when we received orders to prepare to march on board. We stood around in marching order, with the exception of 30 minutes for dinner, until 5 p.m., when we embarked. The boat is 675 feet long, being one of the largest in the fleet. There are 36 ocean boats in three lines with two battleships and several cruisers guarding us. Three German ships were sunk not far off but we did not hear the firing. Altogether there are some 50 boats in line and it sure is some sight.

Sept. 30 – Waiting for others to embark.

Oct. 1 – (12.15 p.m.) Left dock and steamed down the river for parts unknown.

Oct. 2 – I woke up when we were in the middle of the river, and could see land on both sides. We put the pilot off at Father Point, at 10 a.m., and then followed the coast line all day. We pulled into Gaspe Bay at 5 p.m. and then for the first time saw the fleet together.

Oct. 3 – We lay at anchor for the six liners that left after we did.

Oct. 4 – We left at 4.15 p.m. and we knew at last we were going. Everything went fine. We saw the last of the Canadian land about 1 p.m.

Oct. 5 – Seasick, not on deck much

Oct. 6 – More cruisers have joined us, I don't know how many. A man from the Royal George fell overboard and we picked him up and saved him. He is still with us. We have fire drill every other day. There were about 35,000 troops, and we have about 2,500 aboard this boat.

Oct. 7 – It is very stormy and rough about the stomach.

Oct. 9 – Same as yesterday.

Oct. 10 – Vaccinated

Oct. 11 – Sunday - Expect to see land anytime now.

Oct. 12 – Expect to be in England tomorrow.

Oct. 13 – Not in yet. It is stormy.

Oct. 14 – Sighted land, but it is too stormy to stay on deck. We pulled in Plymouth harbor, but will not land in this port I think. Will not have any more time to write on board ship, so will say goodbye. Have arrived safe in England at last.

Goodbye, with love to everybody,

Cecil H. Epps