1/5 Battalion, Gloucestershire
Cyril William Winterbotham may have been destined for a prominent role on the political stage, had the Great War not intervened.
He was born in Cheltenham on 27 February 1887 and was one of seven children born to James Batten Winterbotham, a solicitor and Alderman of the town, and his wife Eliza.
Educated at Cheltenham College and Lincoln College, Oxford University he took up Law as a profession, becoming a member of the Middle Temple and was later called to the Bar, practising in the Oxford Circuit.
In 1913 he was selected as the prospective Liberal Party Parliamentary candidate for the Cirencester constituency and was considered to have a promising political future.
Following the outbreak of war, he took part in recruiting meetings and in September 1914 was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 1/5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment.
During his time as an officer in the Glosters he found time to write poetry and had a collection of poems published in 1916.
In June 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant. For a few months in 1916 he was attached to 143 Infantry Brigade (48 (South Midland) Division) before returning to the 1/5th Glosters on 14 August 1916 where he assumed command of ‘C’ Company.
The Somme Offensive was now into its second month and on 25 August the battalion moved into the front line.
On 27 August the battalion mounted a two company attack, with a further one in support on the German position known as Skyline Trench, which was south west of Mouquet Farm. ‘C’ and ‘B’ Companies were in the lead, with ‘A’ following up in support.
Following an intense artillery barrage the lead companies entered the German trenches and overcoming stern resistance Skyline Trench was captured, consolidated and held. However, this was not without cost as the battalion suffered almost 120 casualties. Lieutenant Winterbotham was one of four officers killed in the action.
A chaplain wrote to his mother in the days following his death stating that he had been buried in a captured German trench and a wooden cross marked the grave. The grave was subsequently lost and Lieutenant Winterbotham is named on the Thiepval Memorial.
He is also commemorated on the Cheltenham War Memorial, that of the College and other memorials in the town. He was initiated as a Freemason in 1910 and his name appears on the Roll of Honour of Freemasons of Gloucestershire inside Gloucester Cathedral.
Research by Graham Adams