Cecil Agnes EASTGATE (1875-1955)

Cecil Agnes Eastgate (1875-1955) was a colleague of Mela Brown Constable’s in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

Cecil Agnes Eastgate was born on 2nd June 1875 at Grewsley, Middlesex, the eldest of four children of the Reverend Charles Edward Eastgate, and his wife, Agnes Ann.  She was baptised at St Matthew’s, Grewsley, Middlesex, on 24th June 1875.  The family later moved to Hackney where her father was curate of St John, then to Northampton where he was assistant priest at St Matthew’s, and from 1887 to Ramsgate where he was Vicar of St Paul’s.

Cecil became a teacher and spent much of her time teaching overseas.  She returned to England during WW1 and joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1917, being appointed Unit Administrator from 12th August 1917.  She was assigned to Saltley Depot Hostel.  Mela, as a fellow Unit Administrator, met her on a couple of occasions in January 1918.  It transpired that Cecil was a friend of the Sladdens’ cousin, Marian Sladden, having known her through teaching.  In April 1918 Cecil was sent as Unit Administrator to Connaught Club in London.

Cecil died on 28th May 1955, aged 79, at Tuqvor Nursing Home, Mortlake Road, Kew, Surrey.