105270 Second Lieutenant Cecil Botibol, Leicestershire Regiment

Discussion in '1940' started by Drew5233, Oct 3, 2010.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    :poppy: CWGC - Casualty Details :poppy:


    [​IMG]

    2nd Lt. Botibol was born in North London and he was a Shepardi Jew and a member of the Bevis Marks Synagogue congregation. He came from a well known family who were importers of cigars and other fine and luxury items. Before the war 2nd Lt. Botibol served in the ranks with the Honourable Artillery Company which was known, and still is today for providing officers to other regiments. 2nd Lt. Botibol was one of those that was commisioned and he joined the Leicestershire Regiment.

    2nd Lt. Botibol was affectionately known as 'Bot' to his comrades. Shortly after joining the regiment he attended a Weapons Training Course and became the Battalion's Weapon Training Officer (WPO) and later became the Battalion's Intelligence Officer (IO).

    On the 26th May 1940 the battalion was fighting in and around Carvin, France, parts of the battalion were withdrawing from the village when a shell burst within a few yards of 2nd Lt. Botibol severely wounding him in the stomach. A ambulance was just a short distance away and reached him within 2 to 3 minutes. He was taken away and seen around an hour later passing through Brigade HQ and was not seen or heard of again for around 2 months. It was hoped by his comrads that he had been taken prisoner and was now alive and well in a PoW camp. Eventually news arrived via a French Officer that 2nd Lt. Botibol was taken to a French hospital just outside Dunkirk (I think it may have been at Zuydcoote). Sadly 2nd Lt. Botibol had died of his wounds 2 days later on 28th May 1940.

    The unknown French Officer contacted officers of 2/5 Battalion and handed over his letters and personal papers. He also told the officers that he was buried in Malo-les-Bains with full military honours with a number of French officers at his burial.

    Extract from his Orbituary:

    Many of his brother officers will always hold the fondest memories of other off duty occasions spent in his delightful and ever generous company. He was generous to a degree, and many will long remember the super cigars that he invariably produced through the kindness of an uncle in the trade.

    After the war the family tragedy continued. 2nd Lt. Botibol's parents never got over the loss of their only son and were divorced in the 1950's.


    Tigers at Dunkirk - Matthew Richardson
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I received this message the other day and thought I'd add it to this thread. I will, of course, remove it if asked.

    While doing a google search for family history research I came across your information on 105270 Second Lieutenant Cecil Botibol, Leicestershire Regiment. He was my half brother and my father talked regularly about him. Although he died 12 years before I was born I was touched by the information posted.
     
  3. botibol

    botibol New Member

    The comment about "the family tragedy continued" does not fit with my knowledge. The divorce of Cecil's parents Leslie and Dora was not a consequence of Cecil's death. Both his parents went on to have joy in their lives.

    I am the adopted son of Cecil's older sister Valerie. I knew both Leslie and Dora (separately) from my childhood in the 1950's until their deaths in 1977. Their marriage ended before Cecil was thirteen. Leslie remarried in 1929 and soon had a son and a daughter by that marriage. By the 1950's Leslie had married for the third and last time, producing two daughters and a son. Whilst Dora did not remarry, she did lead an active life with friends. Dora was a wonderfully affectionate grandmother to me: a relationship which was rewarding to both of us. Leslie welcomed me in his homes with generous hospitality. Cecil was remembered with affection; but his parents were able to move on.

    David Botibol
    2nd May 2016
     
    Rich Payne and Drew5233 like this.

Share This Page