Name
William George Straney
08/07/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/06/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
10229
South Wales Borderers
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 80 to 84 or 219 and 220.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (including Gallipoli).
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
William George Straney was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire on 8th July 1891, son of John Straney a Steam Engine Fitter and Mary Ann Straney (nee Duckett). Believed to be one of ten children.
Baptised on 10th January 1892, at the Church of St Lawrence and Holy Cross, Waltham Holy Cross, Essex. At the time the family were living in Greenfield Street, Waltham Holy Cross, Essex.
1901 Census record William aged 10, as George, living with his parents, three brothers and two sisters at, 174 Northumberland Park, Tottenham, Middx.
About 1909, William travelled to Brecon, Powys, Wales, to enlist in the South Wales Borderers, issued with the service number 10229.
1911 Census records William as George aged 20, single, and a Private in the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Boarders, stationed at the Artillery Barracks, Pretoria, South Africa. His parents, sister Lily (14), brothers John (13) and Albert/Alfred (11), and adopted sister Alice Hilda Fullbrock were living at 1 Park Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
In October 1912, William and his Battalion sailed from South Africa to Tientsin, China.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, William was still serving with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers stationed in Tientsin, China, they were mobilized for war and on 23rd September 1914, they landed at Lao Shan Bay seeing action in the German Territory of Tsingtao, China. From there they moved to Hong Kong and in December sailed for Plymouth, landing on 12th January 1915, moving to Rugby for war training for France, when they were mobilized for operations at Gallipoli, they left Avonmouth on 17th March 1915, sailing via Malta, to Alexandria from there to Mudros. On 25th April 1915, they landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, the Battalion was engaged in heavy fighting there until they were evacuated on the night of 7th & 8th January 1916. William was Killed in Action on 28th June 1915, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey to the missing.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal; date of promotion is not known.
He is recorded as George Straney on his military and CWGC records.
Additional Information
His mother received a dependents pension of 5/- a week and his effects of £12-18s-11d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £5.
The Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross, Herts, has a “W. G. Stracey” date of death is recorded as 1918.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
