Cyril G. Cash
Early Life
Cyril Gordon Cash was born on October 3, 1893. Records present differing accounts of his birthplace, with some identifying Rye, New York, and others indicating Sag Harbor on Long Island. He was the son of George Steward Cash and Odessa DeCastro Cash, and he spent much of his youth in Rye, where his father served for many years as a church organist and choirmaster.
Raised in a household deeply connected to church and community life, Cash participated actively in his father’s choir, reflecting the central role of music and faith in his upbringing. At the turn of the twentieth century, Rye was undergoing a period of transformation from a rural coastal town into a growing suburban community influenced by nearby New York City. Within this evolving environment—where long-established families and newer residents lived side by side—Cash developed strong ties to local civic and religious life that would remain with him throughout his years.
World War I Service
Cash registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, as the United States mobilized for participation in World War I under the American Expeditionary Forces. At the time, he was employed in the financial sector as a broker, reflecting his early professional pursuits in New York.
He entered military service on August 5, 1918, at Port Chester, New York, and was assigned to engineering and logistical units, including the 437th Engineers. Engineer units during World War I were essential to both combat and support operations, responsible for constructing roads, bridges, and defensive works, as well as maintaining infrastructure necessary for troop movement and supply.
Cash also served with a depot detachment of the Quartermaster Corps, the branch charged with supplying the Army with food, clothing, equipment, and transportation. These units were vital to sustaining the rapidly expanding American Army, ensuring that soldiers in training and those preparing for overseas deployment were properly equipped and supported.
His service was conducted entirely within the United States, contributing to the training and logistical systems that underpinned the nation’s wartime effort. His record indicates that he sustained no wounds in action, and he held the rank of private.
Cash was honorably discharged on January 16, 1919, following the conclusion of hostilities and the demobilization of American forces.
Life After Service
Following his return from military service, Cash resumed his life in Rye, where he remained closely connected to the community. He established himself as a real estate dealer, participating in the development and growth of the area during the interwar years.
He later lived for a period in Port Chester before settling in Mount Vernon, New York, where he resided for approximately eight years prior to his death. Throughout his life, he remained active in civic and veterans’ organizations, including membership in the Rye American Legion Post.
Cash also maintained a strong connection to church life, attending the First Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, where he participated in congregational and Bible class activities, continuing the religious traditions that had shaped his early years.
Cyril Gordon Cash died on January 25, 1946, at Mount Vernon Hospital at the age of 52.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Ida Marquis Cash, and a daughter.
He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts.