Name
Stuart William Hart
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/05/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
651005
London Regiment *1
21st (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Conservative Club Memorial, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Harry William HART of Brighton, Sussex, and the late Clara (nee NOBLE) HART.
His parents married 14 January 1886 at St Michael’s, Strand, London. Clara of Stone, Kent, died 16 September 1902 aged 47 and was buried 20 September at Holy Trinity, Dartford, Kent. Harry remarried 24 March 1906 at St Luke’s, Chelsea, London, to Annie BROWN. Harry died 1931 aged 79; Annie died 1953 aged 83; both in the Brighton district.
Stuart was born 3 March 1890 in Watford, and baptised 16 April 1890 at St Andrew’s, Watford. He attended Watford Grammar School from April 1900 to December 1905, and resided in Brighton.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he still lived in Watford, with his father and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a shipping clerk aged 21 he still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Camberwell, Surrey, and was formerly Lance-Corporal 3106 21st London Regiment.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 March 1915, and was presumed dead/killed in action.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads: “HART, STUART WILLIAM. School period: April, 1900, to December,1905. Lance-Corporal, 21st London Regiment. Killed in action, 23rd May, 1916.”
There are articles about Stuart in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 10 June 1916 and 24 June 1916. Unfortunately, Stuart’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
