Name
William Wickens
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16680
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier & Face 11.D
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Baldock memorials
Pre War
William Thomas Chandler Wickens was born in 1890 in Baldock, Hertfordshire, the son of William and Annie Wickens, and baptised on 7 September 1890 at Baldock. He was one of six children, but two died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 199 Barrett Road, Newington, Southwark and his father's occupation was described as Police Constable. By 1901 Census they had moved to Elsma Terrace, Wellington Road, Hounslow, Middlesex and his father was then working as a navvy. They remained at the same address in 1911 at which time William was working as a shop assistant.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hounslow, Middlesex and joined Princess Charlotte of Wales' (Royal Berkshire) Regiment, serving in France with the 2nd Battalion from 8 June 1915.
William was killed in action on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, aged 25. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £3 8s 9d. Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant but give no indication of the amount of pension received.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
