Name
William Fenn
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5203
Leinster Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 78
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, St Michael's Church Memorial, St Albans, Not on the Harpenden memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Childwickbury to the villagers or the Estate
Pre War
William George was born in Harpenden in 1883 to George Fenn, a hay and straw binder, and Alice (nee Warren). They were living at Lower Cravells Road, Harpenden.
On the 1901 Census William was working as a farm labourer. William married Lily Jane Hebbs in late 1909 and on the 1911 Census they were living on Batsford Road, Harpenden.
A later address was given as Shafford Cottages, St Albans.
Wartime Service
William joined firstly the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 30959 and later transferred to 7th Battalion Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians). This unit was disbanded at Tincourt on 14 Feb 1918 and troops were transferred to the 2nd Battalion Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians).
In March 1918 the German Army launched an Offensive, during which William was reported missing. His remains were not recovered and his death was accepted as on 21 March 1918 (in some records as 27 March).
He is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £9 10s and arrears of £13 7s 9d paid to his widow Lily.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild, Christine Aitken,
