Name
William Charles Webb
Circa 1991
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
57572
Royal Fusiliers *1
26th (County of London)(Service) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 28 to 30 and 162 to 162A and 163A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, East Barnet Valley Memorial, New Barnet, St James the Great Church Memorial, Friern Barnet
Pre War
William was born around 1881 in New Barnet, and we believe his parents were Charles and Sarah Webb.
In 1891 the family were living at 2 Lime Cottages, Edward Road, New Barnet, Herts,. Present were both parents: Charles (35) and Sarah (40), with Charles working as a carman. Their only child was William Charles (10).
By 1901 Charles had died and Sarah and William were living at 2 Water Cottages, Edward Road, New Barnet. William at 20 was working as a corn merchant carman. Also present were boarders Thomas Clark (25) and Harold A Wren (16).
Agnes May Foster (b 23/11/1884) in Hitchin in 1904, Agnes was born in Hitchin.
By 1911 William and Agnes were living at Boston Cottage, Edward Road, New Barnet. William working as a carman. The census recorded they had been married for 6 years but had no children. There was one boarder present Joseph Orton (46).
He enlisted, probably conscripted in March 1917, with the service number TR/10/29775 with a training battalion.
Officially William was recorded as born in New Barnet and was living there when he enlisted in Watford.
Wartime Service
His original service number was TR/10/29775 and his medal card records show him to have served as No. 57572 with the 7th Royal Fusiliers between 21 June 1917 and July 8th, then the 26th Royal Fusiliers between 9 July and 11 November 1017, 12th to 25 April 1918, then 26th to his death. The reasons for the separation in listings are not known possibly the 9th July 1917 is the date he went abroad, but this is not certain, the other could perhaps be temporary promotions or attachments? Unfortunately, his service record, which would probably have explained all, has not been found.
Also there is another issue, from the above, his period with the 7th is too short for it to be training – the training period was usually six months but was reduced where losses required it. His later medical records suggest that his service start around March 1917 and service in the field form around May 1917 – another medical record suggests March 1917 and June 1917, which seems more probable.
This all suggests that his time as TR/10/29775, and his training, started in March 1917 and that he probably went aboard around June 1917 (probably 21st).
The medical records for 139 Field Ambulance (41 Div Regt. Station) record that William was received on 18 December 1917 with ICT (Inflammation of connective tissue) finger on right hand and right arm. It records him as 38 years old and had served for 9 months, 7 on active service. He was sent on to 24 Casualty Clearing Station on December 21st.
He has a second admittance to the 139 Field Ambulance (41 Div Regt. Station) which records that William was received on 9 September 1918 with GSW (Gun Shot Wound) to his right foot. It records him as 38 years old and had served for 1 year 6 months, 1 year and 3 months on active service. He was sent on to 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on the same day.
The 26th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers which at the time of his death was part of the 124th Brigade in the 41st Division of XIX Corps of the 2nd Army and he was killed in action.
This was during the Battle of Ypres which took place from the 28th September to the 2nd October 1918. A Corps attack started opposite Hollebeke with the 41st Division in support. By the 29th September they had gained the line of the River Lys having taken Hollebeke and Zandvoorde.
The 26th Battalion advanced without artillery support at 2.00pm on the 28th September 1918 from a position about 100 yards west of Canada Tunnels for 300 yards to Green Jacket Ridge where stubborn resistance was experienced. They continued attacking until they reached a line a few hundred yards east of Basseville Beek.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 28 to 30 and 162 to 162A and 163A of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £2 11s 8d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Agnes, on 12 February 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £6 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 12 December 1919.
His pension cards record Agnes May Webb as his widow and as his dependant, living at Boston Cottage, Edward Road, New Barnet. She was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 28 April 1919. She may have then returned to the town of her birth (Hitchin) after his death as a later address was 8 Ickleford Road, Hitchin.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Bankers).
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
