Name
William Graves
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
S/23872
Rifle Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 145 to 147.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Hunsdon War Memorial
Memorial Plaque St Dunstan’s Church, Hunsdon
Pre War
Born in 1879, in Hunsdon, to parents William and Susan, in 1881 they were living in Hunsdon Street, Hunsdon, along with his brothers Macer and Frederick and sisters Eliza, Emily and Alice. His father was employed as a sawyer. By 1901 William was living, as a boarder, in Crib Street, Ware and he was a general labourer. In 1911 he was still a boarder but he had moved to Fulham and was living with his brother, Fred and his family, and he was now employed as a coach painter.
Wartime Service
Was posted to the Rifle Brigade on enlistment but transferred to 2nd/17th London Regiment (Stepney and Poplar Rifles). They arrived in France on 22nd June 1916 after serving in Ireland during the Easter rising. Spent 5 months in France then the Battalion was moved to Salonika where they stayed until June 1917, then transferred to Egypt where they served in the Palestine campaign including the Battle for Gaza, the battle for Jerusalem and the attack on Amman. In May 1918 they were transferred back to France as part of the 90th Brigade of the 30th Division. They took part on the final advances during the 100 Days campaign when the Germans were forced back across the whole front, in the final battle for Ypres. The London Regiment attacked on 28th September in heavy rain, they advanced about 6 miles during the next two days capturing all the high ground that they had fought over for the previous 4 years, during this final assault William Graves died but his body was never recovered.
Additional Information
At the time of his death he was shown as living in Spitalfields, Middx.
Acknowledgments
Terry & Glenis Collins
