Lieutenant, 1st Squadron Royal Flying Corps.
Killed in action 26th June 1917, age 20.
Remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.
Unknown relationship to The Tech.
Cyril was born on 7th February 1897 at Sowerby Bridge, the son of Charles Marten and Lucyna Street. In the 1901 Census they were living at 9 Sutton Road, Heaton Norris, Stockport and his father’s occupation was listed as bank clerk and by 1911 he was a bank manager. Cyril was educated at North Manchester Grammar School and the Municipal Secondary School, Manchester. He was trained as an electrical engineer at Broadheath.
On the outbreak of war Cyril was granted a commission in the Cheshire Regiment and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916 as an observer. He gained his ‘wings’ on 27th February 1917 when he passed his aviators test (Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate No. 4492). He was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1917. On 26th June 1917 he led a formation of machines, his being a Niueport Scout, in an attack on an enemy formation of five or six machines, two of which were brought down. After the encounter he was missing, but later in the evening word was received that he had come down just inside the British front line. It is presumed that he died and his body was not recovered as he has no known grave.
He left effects worth £199 13s 2d to his father, who was now noted as a cafe proprietor.