William James Gates

Name

William James Gates
20/02/1887

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

17/04/1918
31

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Pioneer
WR/343402
Royal Engineers
16th Company, Inland Waterways and Docks

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

Searched but not found

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

HERTFORD CORPORATION CEMETERY
H. H. I.
United Kingdom

Headstone Inscription

Researched

UK & Other Memorials

Cheshunt Town Memorial, Not on the Hertford memorials

Pre War

William James Gates was born in Hertford, Hertfordshire on the 20th February 1887, son of James Gates a, Nursery Gardener and Mary Ann Gates (nee Burgess).

William was Baptised with his sister Florence at All Saints with St John, Hertford, on the 11th September 1887.

1891 Census records William aged 4, living with his parents, sisters Eleanor (9), Martha (7), and Florence (6) at, 24 Thornton Street, Hertford, Herts. The family had three boarders living with them.

1901 Census William (14) is living with his parents, and sisters Clara (20), Martha (8) and Florence (17) now at 44 Thornton Street, Hertford.

1911 Census. William (24), is working as a Gardener and boarding with George and Martha Moye and their family in Rye Road, Rye Park, Hoddesdon, Herts.

William married Harriett Priscilla Barnes the daughter of Samuel and Frances Barnes of Brickendon, Herts, in 1916 in Edmonton, Middlesex. 

Wartime Service

William travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist. Posted to the Royal Engineers, with the service number WR/343402. He was serving with the 16th Company, Inland Waterways and Dock, Royal Engineers, when he was taken ill and died of Pneumonia on 17th April 1918.

He is buried in Hertford Corporation Cemetery, Hertford, Herts.

Additional Information

Harriette received a widow’s pension of 13/9 a week from 28th October 1918, and his Pay Owing of £3-14s-4d.

William's headstone (not CWGC) bears the inscription:

Acknowledgments

Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox