Aberystwyth at War 1914 -1919 : Cyril Mortimer Green, Captain, Royal Sussex Regiment

Cyril’s parents were both from Aberystwyth (Thomas Mortimer Green and Catherine Green) and although Cyril was a native of Denbigh, he was educated in multiple University colleges, including Exeter, Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. He married Gwendoline Mortimer Green, of 23, Southwood Court, Golder’s Green, London.

He became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment in October 1914, and served in France until he was wounded at Festubert on 9th May 1915, after which he returned home for treatment. He returned to the front but this time was a part of the advance into Palestine and fought in the Third Battle of Gaza, where he was killed on 6th November 1917. He was 29 and is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.

Cyril was a passionate ecologist at University College London. He undertook a detailed survey of the Borth Bog near Aberystwyth and in 1914 had been appointed as Botanical Assistant for the National Museum of Wales. He never got to take up his post due to the war but he pursued his interest while serving in Palestine by sending back plants from that part of the world.