Cyril Vernon Hadley, born on 30th May 1896, was admitted to King Edward’s School in January 1907, and was later elected as a Foundation Scholar. His parents were Frederick, managing director of an iron founding company, and Ellen. They had nine children, and the family lived at Oakfield, Blenheim Road, Moseley. Three of Cyril’s brothers, Edgar, Edward and Geoffrey, were also Old Edwardians and served during the war.
At School, Cyril was an able modern linguist, but does not appear in the School magazines, suggesting that he was not an outstanding sportsman.
In September 1914, Cyril enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, and served in both France and Flanders. In September 1915, he gained a commission as a Second Lieutenant, attached to the 10th Worcestershire Regiment in France. He was wounded and declared missing, presumed killed, at Albert on 1st July 1916, aged twenty. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and on St Mary’s Church Memorial, Moseley. His father requested his son’s medals in 1921.