Cyril Wiggins is commemorated on the War Memorial in the Church of St. Andrew, Oddington.
Rather than be just a name it is important that we know something about Cyril. He was born at Noke in April 1900, the son of Frederick and Maria (nee Dorrell). Frederick came from Weston-on-the-Green and Maria was from Noke. Cyril was baptised at Noke on 15 April 1900 as Walter Cyril but later known as Cyril.
Following their marriage at Noke on 2 April 1881 Frederick and Maria settled in Noke, where Frederick was employed as an agricultural labourer at Upper Farm. They had nine children, before moving to Oddington in about 1903. Frederick took up employment with William Haynes, of Rectory Farm. Two further sons were born at Oddington.
Cyril enlisted (date unknown) in the Scottish Horse Yeomanry of the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line.
On 10 October 1918 Cyril was amongst hundreds of military personnel from various nations on board R.M.S. Leinster from the port of Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin, bound for Holyhead. In very rough seas the vessel was hit by a German torpedo. The initial damage, whilst serious, did not put the vessel in immediate danger of sinking. An evacuation commenced with lifeboats being launched. At this point a second torpedo struck, causing the vessel to explode. Of the 813 people on board, 569 were lost, amongst them Cyril.
RMS Leinster
St Andrew's Church 