Research Step 1:
Email to: Kate Rose
Archivist /Kovskrifyades
Cornwall Council/Konsel Kernow

kate.rose@cornwall.gov.uk
Tel/Pell: 01209 614430

Result: Nothing found

Step 2:
Email to:
Councillor Loveday E. T. Jenkin
Parishes of Crowan, Sithney and Wendron
01209 831517
07718 763566
cllr.loveday.jenkin@cornwall.gov.uk

Result: She forwarded the inquiry to several Facebook groups

Facebook Results:

Email from Ruth, 4 February 2025

Hi Peter,

My cousin forwarded your request about Cecil Bosustow from Loveday Jenkin, regarding information about Cecil. My uncle and mother, William John and Evelyn Coulston, knew Cecil, and my cousin (William John’s son) says he was William John’s best friend. Evelyn always said he was like a brother to them. William John passed away in 1985, but Evelyn always placed a Poppy cross at the War Memorial at Wendron Church, where Cecil’s name is listed on the plaque along with all the other men from the parish who died in both World Wars. In fact, as a family we usually attend the Remembrance Service at Wendron Church in November, when all the names are read out. My mother passed away in 1999, but my sister still places a cross at the memorial.

We’re grateful that people like you help maintain these graves. In fact, my younger sister visited Cecil’s grave in the 1990s. She placed a small wooden Poppy cross on the grave and scattered some soil from Crelly, a small hamlet about a mile from Wendron Church. Cecil lived in another hamlet closer to the church, called Trenear.

As far as we know, Cecil is not related to us, and there are no Bosustows living in Trenear today, though there are some in the wider area. My cousin and I remember hearing about a Nora Bosustow and wonder if she might have been one of the sisters. It’s not unusual around here for people to be known by a different name than the one they were born with!

I’ve replied to Loveday and said she may pass on my (or rather, my wife’s) email address to you. Since then, I’ve found a photo of Cecil that my mother had. I also found one of him with another friend, Sidney Spargo, next to a threshing machine. I believe it was likely taken at my grandfather’s farm in Crelly, as it was among my mother’s belongings. I’ll send them separately. Unfortunately, the photo quality isn’t great, but it’s the best we have!

My cousin and I were really pleased to read about your inquiry and spent some time on the phone going over the details. My cousin still lives in Crelly and I live just two miles away, so we see each other regularly.

I hope this is useful to you. I’m afraid we don’t have a date of birth. The only other information we have is what’s on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, which I assume you’ve already seen.

Thank you for your interest in Cecil. He is someone we always heard about, and we believe he must have been a very dear friend to William John and Evelyn. So many men from the Wendron parish were killed in both wars. What a loss!

Email from Tony Bennett, translated by ChatGPT

Hello Peter,

I read in a Facebook group on Cornish genealogy that you’re looking for information on Cecil Thomas Bosustow and possible relatives. I’m the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Wendron, a volunteer role as part of a network that deals with genealogy inquiries, so I’ve tried to gather some information for you.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any living relatives, apart from one very distant cousin. There may well be others still living, but they are difficult to trace. I’ve contacted a few people on Ancestry.co.uk who might be related, but so far I haven’t received any useful responses. Of course, I will reach out again if I discover anything about living relatives.

However, I can give you some details about Cecil’s family. Cecil was born on 19 October 1918 in Wendron, the second son and fifth of six children of Thomas Bosustow and Annie Gertrude Bray. Thomas, born in 1874 in Ruan Minor, married Annie, born in 1881 in Grade, on 4 April 1907 in Ruan Minor. These places are not far from Wendron.

Thomas died in 1953 and Annie in 1941.

Cecil’s siblings were:

• Gladys Gertrude Bosustow, born 1907 in Landewednack: married Edward Jeffery in 1930. They had five children, all born in the Helston area: Courtney T (1932), John K (1933), Samuel J T (1935), Gillian E A (1945), and Cecil R (1946). Gladys died in 1980.

• Lilian Frances Mary Bosustow, born 1910 in Landewednack: married Stanley Halls in 1929. They had three children, born in the Helston area: Lilian Grace Jean (1929), Patricia D (1940), and Stanley K (1943). Lilian (the elder) died in 1971.

• Nora Eileen Bosustow, born 1915 in Cury. She was still alive in 1939, but I’ve found no marriage or further information.

• William J Bosustow, born 1917 in Wendron. He was alive in 1921, but I have found no further information on him.

• George Bosustow, born 1920 in Wendron. He was alive in 1939, but I’ve not been able to trace him after that.

I’m sorry I can’t provide more information, but as I said, I will let you know if I discover anything further.

Kind regards,
Tony Bennett