Name
William Clacy Feaviour
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/12/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
1838
Honourable Artillery Company
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY, MAILLY-MAILLET
Plot II, Row B, Grave 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Watford Conservative Club Memorial,
Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
St Paul's Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Harleton, Norfolk on 6 March 1880, William Clacy Feaviour was the youngest of seven children of Robert, a coachbuilder, and Emma (née Whitney) Feaviour.
His parents were married on 26 March 1874 in Stradbroke, Suffolk. Robert died in 1887 in Harleston, age 57, and William’s older brother took charge of the business. Emma died in 1904 in Depwade, Norfolk, age 62.
At the 1881 Census, William was age 1 and living in Harleston with his parents and six siblings; Mary Ellen (age 25), Harriett (age 23), Robert Lindzey (age 21), Frederick George (age 18), Arthur (age 15), Margarett (age 6). Robert Murray (a police officer) was also there as a lodger. His father was a coach builder.
At the 1891 Census, William is a scholar, age 10, and still lived in Harleston with his widowed mother and four siblings; Margaret, Frederick and Alexander (age 5). The recorded birthplace for William on this census is Redenhall, Norfolk which is very near to Harleston.
By 1901, William was age 21 and had moved to Watford, where he was a boarder at 8, Derby Road. He was employed as a grocer’s assistant.
William married Blanche Sarah Harter of 8 Hillside Road, Bushey on 13 January 1908. Sadly, she died during the first quarter of 1911 at the age of 29. They had one child, Patricia Mary, who was born on 10 December 1908 in the registration district of Castle Ward, Northumberland.
There is also a record in the 1911 Census for Dublin, held in the National Archives of Ireland, for a William Clacy Feaviour (age 31), who was a visitor at Upper Sackville Street, North City, Dublin. The head of the family is Jessie Robertson and also present are an Assistant Head, a Manageress, 13 Servants, 6 Boarders and 17 Visitors. The name and age match those for William and his religion is given as Church of England, but it is not known if this is actually him, nor why he would have been there.
Wartime Service
William enlisted as a volunteer at The Armoury in London on 2 September 1914 with the Reserve Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company. At the time he was living in Bushey at 8 Hillside Road. He was 34 and 6′ tall.
He remained in England until embarking at Southampton on 1 October 1916, disembarking at Le Havre the following day and proceeding to the front on 4 October 1916.
He served as Transport Sergeant 1838 in the 2nd Honourable Artillery Company (Infantry) and was killed in action on 6 December 1916, aged 35.
He is remembered with honour at Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet in France and is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial, at St James’ Church and at St Paul’s in Bushey.
His pension card gives Mrs Addie Elizabeth Johnstone of 8, Hillside Road, Watford as the guardian for Patricia Mary.
There is a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer, dated 16 December 1916.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 16 December 1916.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - ‘Bushey during the Great War. A Village Remembers’ – Bushey Museum & Art Gallery., Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
