Name
Horace Sweeting
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/05/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16899
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot C, Row 2, Grave 300.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Eliza (nee CARPENTER) SWEETING of Watford, and the late John SWEETING.
His parents married 26 April 1874 at St Mary’s, Watford. John died 20 May 1918 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 24 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Eliza died 1921 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 14 November, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery. There is a Death announcement for John in the Observer dated 25 May 1918.
Horace was born 2 May1894 in Watford, and baptised 8 June 1894 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 7 January 1901 to 26 March 1902. He resided in Watford, and was buried 1 June.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and eight siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Railway Company parcel porter aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and died at the Military Hospital, Exeter, Devon, of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Horace’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Horace in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 June 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 31 May 1919.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
His brother Ernest died 5 May 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
