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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Lt. Charles Cornelius Shepherd DCM, MM, MID.
British Army 2nd Btn. Duke of Wellingtons Regiment
Born 18th June 1880 in Hampstead, London, England: Captain Charles Cornelius Shepherd, (known as Neil) was a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), Medaille Militaire, and was Mentioned in Dispatches.
As a young boy he was in a Home for Waifs and Strays. As part of the Orphaned Children's Program, he, with 14 others was sent to Canada, departing Liverpool and arriving in either Quebec or Montreal, via SS Sardinian on 13th Aug 1892. Cornelius was sent to Sherbrooke, QC where he lodged and worked for a local French Canadian farming family. He stayed there approx 2 years, after which, at the age of 15, he apparently returned to England, possibly due to his father locating him and bringing him back to England. At some point in the 1890's (possibly in 1899?) he joined the Second Battalion, The Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment, serving in India and elsewhere. He was, for a short period, seconded to the Royal Corps of Signals, apparently in India. In 1907, while a Corporal in the 2nd Btn West Riding Regt (Duke of Wellingtons), living at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, he married Ellen Elizabeth Grinnell, then residing at Wickhamford Lodge, Evesham. They had two children, Eva May Shepherd, and Neil Paul Shepherd, he subsequently divorced, likely due to his wife apparently becoming mentally ill. In 1928 he married Rosa James (known as Rose). My mother, Veronica Rose James Shepherd, was born, also in 1928.
Neil Shepherd enrolled in the Army likely in 1899, served in 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment. The 1911 Census indicates rank of Colour Sergeant, he was living in Kandahar Barracks, South Tidworth, Hants, Hampshire, England, his wife, Ellen Elizabeth Grinnell (32) and two children, Neil Paul (2) and Eva May (5ths) were living in the adjoining wives' and childrens' quarters.
He was promoted to Warrant Officer on the 8th of August 1914. His home address in 1915 was 23 Boat Lane, Evesham, England. Neil was promoted to Sergeant-Major shortly after the outbreak of war. As a Sergeant Major, Neil was Mentioned in a Dispatch by Field Marshall French, on 31od of May 1915. As Regimental Sergeant Major, he was awarded the DCM for bravery as a result of his actions at Puisieux Ridge on 1st of July 1916. Neil was awarded the French Medaille Militaire for bravery as a result of his actions at Les Boeufs during which he was wounded but refused to leave the line. He was Commissioned for Bravery on the Field of Battle in 1916 and was inducted as a Member of the Order of the British Empire on 1st of January 1919. Neil was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st of April 1927 and retired from the Army in 1928.
Charles Cornelius Shepherd was a past member of the Bootle Fellowship Lodge 4401, a member of The Old Contemptibles and a life member of the The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment Association. He was a devoted gardener at their home at Roseverne 130 Liverpool Rd, Chester, and, together with my Grandmother, Rose Shepherd, was recognized after the Second World War for his efforts supporting the soldiers of the Royal Corps of Signals, both serving and POWs. At the time of his death he lived at 130 Liverpool Road, Chester, and he died in the Military Hospital in Chester.
His medals are: Member of the Order of the British Empire; Distinguished Conduct Medal; General Service Medal (1854-1895) for service in India; The 1914 (Mons) Star with Aug 22nd – Nov 1914 Bar; The 1914 – 1918 War Medal; The 1914-1919 Victory Medal with Mentioned in Despatches Oak Leaf; and The French, Medaille Militaire.
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