Cyril was born in Sheffield on the 11th of August 1893. His mother was Annie Treece nee Innocent [born 1863] and his siblings were Frank Treece [born 1895], Gertrude Treece [born 1901], Harry Treece [born 1902] and Dorothy Treece [born 1907]. Cyril’s father George Treece [born 1860] was an engineer’s smith and died after Dorothy’s birth in 1908.

Cyril’s mother remarried to a William Tubb, a coal miner. After their marriage the family moved to Barlborough, due to William’s job. In Barlborough, Cyril and his brother Frank both worked down the pit, Cyril as a rope hand in Tiller Colliery and Frank as a pony driver.

In 1911 Cyril joined the Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. He first served on the Victory II in March 1912, he then moved to the Renown in April of that year. He returned to the Victory II in June 1912 and went onto the Revenge in September 1912. He then moved onto the Achilles in November 1912. On the Achilles he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class and stayed on the Achilles until October 1914 when he returned to the Victory II. In March 1915 he moved to the Amethyst and then in July 1915 he went onto the Dublin. He returned again to the Victory II in February 1916 and quickly moved again to the Vernon in the same month. In March 1916 he moved to the Woolwich and then in May 1916 he moved to the Dido. In January 1917 he returned one last time to the Victory II and then moved to the Wellington where he remained until October 1917.

In 1917 he was invalided on board ship and returned to shore.

Cyril was recorded as having brown hair and hazel eyes. He had a tattoo of a bracelet with an anchor around the wrist of his left arm.

Frank, Cyril’s brother joined the Sherwood Foresters at the outbreak of war and died on the 2nd of July 1916, in Flanders, probably taking part in the Battle of the Somme.