THE short life of Cecil Pryor, read out by Jody Randall.

Thanks you to the Harlow Council Civic Fund and HTS Ltd for supporting this project.

Cecil’s parents were Thomas Pryor, born in Waltham Abbey in 1859 and baptised on 15 May 18591 and Elizabeth Smee, born in Little Bardfield in 18622. Thomas and Elizabeth married in Maldon in the autumn of 18853. Cecil Pryor was born in c. 1896 in High Laver.

The 1901 census shows Cecil residing on the Harlow Road, High Laver with his widowed father Thomas and siblings Thomas, Arthur and Henry. Thomas was working as a farmer. The 1911 census shows Cecil residing at Holts Farm, Threshers Bush, Harlow with his father, his stepmother Annie and his siblings Victor, Herbert, Clifford, Albert, Eva and Stanley. Cecil was working as a farm labourer at the age of fifteen.

Lance Corporal Cecil Pryor, 32327 enlisted serving with the 97th Training Reserve Battalion (formerly of the Royal West Surrey Regiment).

Cecil Pryor was based at Aldershot and died from unknown causes in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire on 9 September 1916 at the age of 20. He was buried in High Laver All Saints Churchyard, north of the church. Register Index Number UK Essex 236.