Name
William Thomas Holt Wells
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1314
London Regiment *2
1st (City of London) Bn.
'K' Coy.,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WHITE CITY CEMETERY, BOIS-GRENIER
Row B, Grave 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Kimpton Village Memorial,
St Peter & St Pauls Church Memorial, Kimpton
Pre War
Son of Eve/Eva (nee HOLT) of Watford, and the late William WELLS.
His parents married 17 February 1887 at St Mary’s, Watford. William died either 1908 in the Hemel Hempstead, Herts, district aged 46 or 1910 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district aged 47; Eva died 1937 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 24 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
William was born 3 October 1894 (or 1893) in Watford, and baptised 15 July 1898 at St John the Evangelist, Watford. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 21 April 1902 to 9 November 1906, and resided in Kentish Town, London.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Fitzroy Square, London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 11 March 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
*1 William is also commemorated on the family headstone in St. Peter & St. Paul Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO WILLIAM HIS (William Wells') SON
WHO FELL AT LOOS SEPT. 25TH 1915, AGED 25 YEARS(CWGC suggests 21).
*2 London Regiment (Royal
Fusiliers).
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
