Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Cecil Guilford who was born at Pleasant Valley, near Geraldine, on 9 May 1889 to Ann Elizabeth Guilford, was brought up by his grandparents, William and Ann (née Benbow) Guilford. Family historian, W Griffin, comments: “Cecil Guilford was the illegitimate son of Ann Elizabeth Guilford and Robert Morrison of Geraldine born 9 May 1889 (likely Christchurch). In infancy, Cecil was with a nurse in Timaru then Oct 1890, was taken into care by Minnie Dean of Winton. Cecil was adopted by grandparents William and Ann Guilford May 1895.” William and Ann who married in New Zealand in 1866, had a large family of their own (18), all born at Pleasant Valley, plus two grandchildren whom they adopted. Three of the children who died young are buried at Geraldine. In the 1860s after their marriage, William Guilford had a hotel at Pleasant Valley; later he was a sawyer. William Guilford was elected to the Pleasant Valley School committee in April 1877; chairman in 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883; on committee 1876 – 1895. Thus, Cecil, Robert and Walter, and their siblings, would have been educated for some time at Pleasant Valley School. Cecil was educated at Pleasant Valley School before being admitted to Tarata School in Inglewood on 16 June 1902 after the family moved from Pleasant Valley to Tarata that year. He left Tarata School for home a few weeks before his fourteenth birthday. From 1911 to 1914 Cecil was living in Egmont Street, New Plymouth, his occupation a bus driver. His sister Emma Guildford, who was the youngest daughter of Mrs W. Guilford and not much younger than Cecil, married at Tarata on Easter Monday 1915. The bride was given away by her mother and Mr Cecil Guilford was best man.

Medically examined on 2 July 1915, Cecil Guildford [sic] stood at 5 feet 6 inches, weighed 11 stone 6 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-38 inches, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all norma, his limbs and chest well formed. His teeth were only fair, the bottom row requiring attention. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. Fit. In November he was inoculated for typhoid. He was one of sixty-four men who had registered at New Plymouth to serve in the mounted, infantry, ambulance and tunnelling corps from 23 September to 14 October. He was in a group of men who left the Inglewood station by the troop train on the evening of 18 October 1915 for the Trentham training camp. There Cecil enlisted with B Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. His address was Egmont Street, New Plymouth and his occupation a farmer. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Annie Guildford, Tarata. Private Guilford was posted to the 9th Reinforcements. Perhaps he was home on leave in late November - early December 1915. The Manawatu Standard carried an advertisement on 4 December 1915 – Found on railway line near Bunnythorpe, soldier’s hat, name C. Guildford inside. He was admitted to hospital at Tauherenikau Military Camp on 13 December 1915, suffering from influenza. He was then granted sick leave from 23 December to 29 December at Tarata, Taranaki.

Private C. Guilford embarked with the Wellington Infantry Battalion of the 9th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington per the “Maunganui” on 8 January 1916 and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 12 February. Ten days later he was admitted to the Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis, suffering from measles, and then to Zeitoun on 9 March. Having joined his Battalion – Wellington Infantry – on 18 March 1916 at Ismailia, he embarked for France from Egypt on 6 April. Wounded in France and admitted to hospital (No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance) on 24 June 1916, suffering from shell shock, Private Cecil Guilford was able to rejoin his Battalion [at Rouen] on 28 June.

There was a large attendance at the Tarata hall on 10 August 1916 on the occasion of the concert, sale of work, and a dance in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. Not only was Cecil Guilford remembered on that occasion, but two of his sisters were involved. During the evening a New Zealand ensign, presented to the Tarata Patriotic Society, was unfurled. Twenty-one names of men who had volunteered for the front from the Tarata district were embroidered on the flag, that of C. Guildford one of them. The flag was to remain in the Tarata hall. During the evening instrumental selections, and songs and a sailor’s hornpipe were given. Miss Myrtle Guildford drew the first raffle number and also worked at the hall on the button-holes. Gifts were auctioned, the bidding being very quick, and guessing competitions were conducted. The takings amounted to £193, and no doubt would reach £200 before the affair was wound up — surely a very creditable achievement for a place the size of Tarata. Miss H. Guildford (Henrietta) made all arrangements for the concert programme and flag carrying. The arrangements could not have been in more capable hands. Sadly, the flag eventually disintegrated with age. There may be an honours board in the hall.

While serving Cecil forfeited 14 days’ pay for carelessly discharging a rifle in the field in October 1916. Cecil Guilford went to the UK on leave on 5 August 1917, returning from leave a week later. Attached to the NZ Wing of the Reinforcements Camp on 30 September 1917, he was then detached to the School of Instruction on 14 October. He rejoined his Battalion at the NZ Wing of the Reinforcements Camp on 31 October. On 5 March 1918 he was admitted to the Field Ambulance, then on 8 March to No. 63 Casualty Clearing Station, sick, rejoining his Battalion on 21 March. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 25 April 1918. Lance Corporal Cecil Guilford died of wounds received in action in the field at the Somme, France on 4 May 1918, a few days before his 29th birthday. He is remembered on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, France.

Mr F. C. Guilford, of Cattle Valley, Fairlie, received official advice in late May 1918 “of the death in action of two of his brothers, Private Walter Guilford, and Private Cecil Guilford. The latter, who left New Zealand with the 11ths, died of wounds on May 4, and the former, who left with the 16ths, was killed about a month before.” Francis Charles Guilford who was an older brother of Walter and Cecil, was a farmer at Cattle Valley and married with three children when he was listed on the 1917 Reserve Rolls. Like Walter and Robert, he had remained in South Canterbury, moving to New Plymouth only in the 1950s. It was in May 1918 that William John Guilford, quarryman, Lyttelton, was drawn in the ballot. William had previously been recorded on the Reserve Rolls, a married man with one child; as had Edward Benbow Guidford, a ploughman at Gisborne. Cecil left no evidence of a will. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to his mother who had moved to New Plymouth, firstly to Gill Street then to Frankleigh Park. She also received the scroll and plaque. He had served in Egypt in 1916 and in France from 1916 to 1918.

In November 1922, the tablet which was to be placed in St. Andrew’s Church, Inglewood, in memory of the men from that district who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-19, was completed. The tablet, which was of Italian marble, was ornamented at the top with scrolls, three on either side, bearing the words “France, Belgium, Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia,” while in the centre are the Union Jack and New Zealand flag together with a laurel wreath. The tablet bears the following inscription: — “To the Glory of God and in grateful memory of the men from this district who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-19.”, and a great many names including Guildford C. and Guildford W. The Inglewood War Memorial - of striking design and standing impressively in the most prominent portion of the town - was unveiled in an impressive ceremony on 21 August 1924. There was a full parade of territorials and senior cadets and the Inglewood band in attendance. The ceremony opened with the playing of the hymn, “Abide With Me,” followed by an address delivered by the Mayor, then the unveiling. After the congregation was led in prayer, the firing party presented arms and “The Last Post” was sounded. The National Anthem brought a very impressive ceremony to a close. Constructed of white Silesian marble, the monument is surmounted by a large life-sized statue of a New Zealand infantryman resting on his arms reversed. Below the inscription: “In remembrance of the men from the Inglewood district who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918,” is a long list of names which includes C. Guilford and W. Guilford. At the base, the words: “Their names live for ever,” are inscribed.

An interesting feature of the unveiling ceremony was that one of the large New Zealand ensigns which shrouded the memorial had been used by New Zealand troops at military funerals in France. On Anzac Day 2015 an oak tree, grown from an acorn from Christchurch’s Gallipoli Oak near the Bridge of Remembrance, was planted in the grounds of Tarata Church as a memorial to the six Tarata residents who lost their lives in World War One. The plaque with their names which was unveiled includes – Cecil Guilford 10/3576 Wellington Infantry 4/5/1918.

Cecil’s brother, Walter Guilford, was killed in action at the Somme just over five weeks Cecil, on 27 March 1918, and another brother, Robert Guilford also served in World War One. Guilford cousins who saw war service were Henry Tracey Guilford (born at Geraldine; South African War and World War One; Ernest Albert Guilford (born at Geraldine; married Guilford cousin; South African War); Gerald Edgar Guilford (born at Geraldine; World War One); Leonard Seymour Guilford (married Guilford cousin; World War One); Wilfred James Guildford (World War One); and Donald Bernard (Bernice) Guildford (World War One). William Guilford (father of Robert, Walter and Cecil), who was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, died at Tarata, late of Pleasant Valley, on 30 October 1906 and was buried at Tarata Cemetery with his son George, but is also remembered on Ann’s headstone at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth. Ann Guilford, who came to New Zealand from England as a child with her parents, died at her New Plymouth residence on 29 June 1930, the relict of William Guilford of Tarata, and was buried at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [17 September 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5539 0048358) [11 July 2014]; CWGC [17 September 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Timaru Herald, 13 April 1877, 4 February 1880, 1 June 1918, Taranaki Herald, 10 April 1915, Taranaki Daily News, 15 & 16 October 1915, 12 July 1916, 15 August 1916, 24 May 1918, 24 November 1922, 22 August 1924, Manawatu Standard, 4 December 1915, Evening Post, 8 July 1916, Waimate Advertiser, 8 July 1916, Wairarapa Age, 10 July 1916, Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1916, New Zealand Herald, 10 July 1916, 24 May 1918, Press, 10 July 1916, 24 May 1918, Gisborne Times, 24 May 1918, Stratford Evening Post, 23 November 1922 (Papers Past) [24 November 2013; 13 July 2014; 29 August 2015; 20 & 21 June 2026; 06 July 2026]; School Admission records (New Plymouth Branch NZSG); NZ Birth registration (microfiche; not online); NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); SCRoll web submission by W Griffin, 4 December 2015; SCRoll web submission by W Griffin, 14 February 2020; Tarata Church - Paterson Memorial (1922) (https://terangiaoaonui.pukeariki.com) [06 July 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• GUILFORD Cecil - newspaper clippings (pdf, 110.7 KB updated 16-Jul-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS