HARRY CECIL STROMBERG
28 April 1895 - 11 August 1915
At School 1909 - 1911
Pte 11935 19th Manchester Regt
Harry (Cecil) was born in Sheffield but by 1901 had moved (via Birmingham) to 23 Derby Road,
Withington, with father Harry, born in Gothenburg, a Hardware Buyer, mother Julia, younger
sister Gladys and two domestic servants. By 1911, the family had moved to 95 Wellington Road,
Fallowfield with the addition of two brothers, Norman and Eric.
Cecil's service records survive and show that he enlisted in Manchester on 10th September 1914 aged 19 years 4 months in the 4th City Battalion, Manchester Regt, one the "Manchester Pals" Battalions.
His papers describe him as 5ft 5 1/4 ins tall, 125 lbs, chest 34 1/2 ins, fresh complexion, green eyes and dark brown hair. He was assigned to B Co No 8 Platoon and is included in the photograph (right) but is not as yet identified.
Billeted at home, their drill and training was initially undertaken at the City Exhibition Hall and Hulme Cavalry Barracks, alternating with the 3rd City Battalion, however, in October they took over Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, which proved more satisfactory. On 30th November the Battalion moved to Heaton Park to join the 1st and 2nd City Battalions already billeted there. In February 1915 they were joined by the 3rd City Battalion, the four Battalions forming the 1st Manchester City Brigade. Initial training completed, the Brigade left for Belton Park, Grantham on 24 April 1915 to join the newly formed 30th Division and prepare in earnest for France. It appears Cecil's attitude to authority may not have been the best; on 6th March 1915 at Heaton Park he was charged with "improper conduct on parade" and sentenced to 48 hours detention and on 20th July 1915 he was charged with "leaving the ranks while on parade" and sentenced to 3 days CB. Sadly Cecil's ability as a soldier in war was not to be put to the test.
Cecil has the unfortunate distinction of being the first fatal casualty of the Manchester Pals. He had often crossed the light railway that ran through Belton Park Camp and on 11th August was seen playing with a puppy near the railway. A witness to his death stated as follows: "at about 4.10 p.m. I was coming out of the Transport Stables near the level crossing on the Londonthorpe Road and about to make for my tent on the top of the hill when I heard the whistle of an engine.
I looked round and saw the deceased had got his foot fastened in either the sleepers or the rails and was struggling to escape the approaching train composed of an engine and four trucks. He was unable to do so in time and was caught by the first truck and knocked down between the metals." Cecil was taken to the Camp Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival from serious head injuries. The railway was used to move military materials but, with no turntable or shunting facilities, the engine would sometimes have to push trucks from the rear, as happened in this case. The train driver was unaware that anyone had been run over until he was stopped later and told of the tragedy. He was absolved of any blame and a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.
Cecil's body was taken back to Manchester and he was buried in Manchester Southern Cemetery.