Name
William James Sylvester
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10649
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AMERVAL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOLESMES
D. 19.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial
Pre War
William James Sylvester was born in Birchanger, Essex on 23 June 1896 to George and Eliza Sylvester and baptised at St Mary, Birchanger, Essex on 2 August 1896. On the 1901 Census the family were living at Bradley Common, Birchanger where his father was a coalcarter. On the 1911 Census he was living with his aunt and uncle, Arthur and Annie Smith, at 49 Rochford Cottages, Stoneyfield Common, Stansted, Essex and working as a labourer in a nursery. (His uncle was a Nursery Foreman). Mrs Alice Warren of 64 Hadham Road, Bishop's Stortford (a widowed laundress) declared herself to be his foster mother on the pension records.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford and served in France from 30 July 1915 with the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was one of several killed in action or wounded during the capture of the village of Beaurain.
Additional Information
His father George received a war gratuity of £19 10s and pay owing of £5 13s 5d. Spelling of Sylvester sometimes with an 'i'.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
