52299: Cecil Egerton Hedges

Not all soldiers died on active service. Cecil died following a swimming accident at a training camp.
1918 June 18th: letter from Cecil to his mother in Bicester:
King George Hosp, Sat aft Dear M, safe home at last and in good hands.
I cannot use my right hand or either legs at present (spinal paralasis I think)
DON'T WORRY!! I'm ALRIGHT!! COME UP and SEE ME SOON
WITH LOVE Cecil.
1918 July 13th: telegram from George William Hedges to Sid. G. Hedges:
Cecil passed away this morning best love Hedges.

1918 July 19th Bicester Advertiser reports on the Sunday School Anniversary; refers to "the passing away of their comrade C Hedges. This youth had been a scholar in
their school and had also for a short time been a teacher. They had just heard that he had passed into the presence of his Master. Naturally they all felt too full to apply their
sympathy to...but he felt sure that the prayers of those present would go out to his father and mother in their loss."

His gravestone, Bicester cemetery:
In loving memory of dear Cecil, youngest son of George William and Mary Ann Hedges
who entered the homeland Jul 15th 1918, aged 19 years.
Death is a port whereby we pass to life.

His brother Sid G Hedges went on to become an author, with more than a million books sold, many of which were about swimming.