Name
Wilfred James Garwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/12/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
473508
London Regiment (The Rangers)
1st/12th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
G. 85.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Birdsall, Yorkshire in 1881, Wilfred James Garwood was the third son of six children born to Henry Robert and Mary (née Phillips) Garwood. Henry was occupied as a gardener. Both parents were born in Beddington.
Wilfred’s parents were married in 1869 in Cambridgeshire and had six children; Mary Maria (born 1869), Harry John (born 1872), Annie E (born 1875), David (born 1878), Wilfred James (born 1881) and Edward George (born 1884).
At the 1891 Census the family were living at 65, School House, Birdsall, Yorkshire and comprised; Henry (age 42 and occupied as a gardener), Mary (age 39), David (age 12), Wilfred J (age 9) and James G (age 7). The three boys are scholars and were all born in Birdsall, Yorkshire.
At the 1901 Census Wilfred was age 19, working as a gardener and living in one of a number of ‘Bothies’ in Scofton, Worksop, Notts. These were a very basic type of accommodation in remote locations, usually for gardeners, and in this case was probably on the Osberton Hall Estate. Each bothy was occupied by a gardener.
Wilfred married Alice Tidy (born 25 October 1877) in Eglingham, Alnwick, Northumberland on 1 August 1907. They had two children; Edgar Leslie (born 4 July 1908) and Wilfred Cyril (born 6 December 1913). Alice was born in Stanmore, Middlesex and Edgar in North Greenwell.
At the 1911 Census, they were living in one room at Hetton House, Belford, Northumberland and included Wilfred (age 29), employed as a domestic gardener, Alice (age 33) and 33 b Stanmore, Middlesex, Edgar 2 b North Greenwell.
The Kelly’s Directory for Bushey for 1912 includes an entry for Wilfred J Garwood as ‘a gardener to R P Attenborough Esq.’ so the family must have moved to Hertfordshire soon after the 1911 census. They were initially living at The Lodge, Merry Hill Road (a property previously occupied by Alfred Garwood, possibly a relative) and later moved to 20, Rudolph Road, Bushey.
Wartime Service
Wilfred enlisted in Watford as Rifleman 473508 with the 1st/12th (County of London) Battalion (The Rangers). He died at sea (drowned Alexandria) on 30 December 1917, age 36. Formerly 6126 with the 9th London Regiment.
It is assumed that this was due to the sinking of the troopship HT ‘Aragon’, which was torpedoed entering the port of Alexandria on that date and sank within 15 minutes with the loss of 380 officers and men. His pension record indicates that his body was subsequently recovered.
He is commemorated at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. His name is also on the Bushey Memorial and on the plaque at St James’ Parish Church Bushey.
Additional Information
Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
