Chico'

On February 25th 1944 it was Cyril Dell's 21st birthday and it looked like being a miserable one. Far from home, no cards or presents, not what he had envisaged for his all important 'coming of age'. Cyril, Bill and Lt.Day had been living in a foxhole for the past week. On this special day Bill had sent Cyril out of the hole on what turned out to be a fools errand. He came back rather cross having had a wasted journey. As he crawled back into the hole he saw, through the gloom, a flickering candle and there on the ground neatly set out on a piece of dirty old rag were three portions of bully beef along with the stub of the candle. Bill and Lt. Day had saved their rations to give Cyril his party. They made tea by digging deep into the dirt to find water which was the colour of milky tea before they even started to boil it. Having brewed their 'beverage' they then toasted Cyril's coming of age by singing Happy Birthday. Cyril said the feast was better than any champagne and caviar.

Cyril was known to all as Chico. He was given this nickname by Bill who told him it meant child. Bill, being older at the ripe old age of 23 found this amusing. Thereafter Cyril was known as Chico throughout the platoon.

Sadly Lt. Noel Day was killed at the Battle of Pagoda Hill just three weeks later.
He is buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma.

	This story was told to me by Cyril (Chico) Dell (formerly Delungo) on the occasion of his 79th birthday which I was very honoured to share with him and his family. Chico now lives in the South of England with his wife Pat and his memories, as you can see from the pictures he was a handsome devil (and still is) cheers Chico.
1944		2002