Chaplain 4th Class Cecil Langdon, Army Chaplains Department, was born on the 6th of April 1882 at Hastings, the seventh son of the late Mr Augustin William Langdon, barrister at law, Lincoln’s Inn and Catherine Henrietta daughter of Major Hugh Baker.

The 1891 census records him with his family at 42 Ashburnham Road, Hastings. Catherine is a widow aged 47 bornat Bletchingley, Surrey and living on own means. Children recorded are Augustin aged 24 and Edmund aged 23 a private tutor, both born at Notting Hill, Middlesex. Henry aged 19, a medical student, John aged 17 a music student, Mary aged 16, William aged 11, and Cecil aged 8, all born at Hastings. The family servants are Honora McCarthy aged 29 born at Hastings as was Lily Harvey aged 22.

The 1901 census finds the family at their previous address. To note the changes, along with Catherine are children Augustus living on own means as is Mary, William now an article clerk solicitor and Cecil a private tutor. Servants are the Harden sisters born at Warehorne, Kent, Eliza aged 27 and Maria aged 17.

In January 1911 he married Elizabeth Mercer Hutchinson (1886 to 1974) daughter of the late Herbert John Hutchinson at Bexhill. The couple had two children, Augustus John and Thomas Cecil.

By 1911 Cecil was married and residing at Natal Road, Preston Sussex. Cecil is a clergyman, church of England. Elizabeth aged 25 born at Highgate, Middlesex. Family servant is Edith Susan Battrick aged 15 born at Brighton. Cecil was educated privately and at Selwyn College, Cambridge and at Ely Theological College. He was ordained at Chichester in 1905 and was Curate at Hove parish church until 1910 “doing excellent work among boys”. Later in the year he was given sole charge of St Albans, a poorer parish of Brighton where he was “beloved by all”.

The result of overwork caused him to leave from ill health in 1914 and the Bishop of Chichester appointed him to Horeham Road in 1915. 

In 1916, he enlisted as a Chaplain in the army and went to France in November.

On the 31st of October 1917 he was killed in action by a bomb at St. Julien.

The Hastings and St Leonards Observer for the 10th of November 1917 reports on his life and death under the title “Rev. Cecil Langdon’s Sacrifice”.

Noting that he was killed by a bomb, the paper goes on the say that the Reverend had decided to extend his services with the troops “only a few weeks ago” and that he was well qualified to do so with his “engaging spirit and fearless personality…whose example and help to our tried soldiers proved of the highest value”.

Lieutenant Colonel Tweed who commanded the Regiment (which is not named, but it was the 11th Bn Border Regiment), wrote to the widow that “Captain Cecil Langdon accompanied a party of officers to a certain place and whilst there a hostile ‘plane dropped a bomb which killed him instantly and some others” Colonel Tweed went on to write that “…..he was loved by all for his unfailing unselfishness, his help and comfort and the great example or personal bravery he always made. He always accompanied the battalion into the trenches and shared whatever risks and hardships befell his beloved men…….”.

He was interred in Gwalia War Cemetery, Flanders.

His probate records him as of The Parsonage Horeham Road and that his estate of £1681-18-2d was administered to Elizabeth.

Chaplain Langdon is remembered in Horam (Christchurch), East Sussex