Name
William Hedley Morant
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/10/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Northumberland Fusiliers
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY
V. F. 18.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE LAID HIS RICHEST GIFT ON THE ALTAR OF DUTY HIS LIFE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Potters Bar memorials (*1), Lincoln College. Oxford WW1
Pre War
William Hedley Morant was born in Chesterton, Cambridge in 1889 (baptised 19 Nov 1889 in Truro, Cornwall) to Richard Hedley Morant, tax surveyor (Inland Revenue) and Isabella (nee Paton),
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Gwendoline (born 1888), and William were living at 2, Belmont Terrace, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall with 2 Domestic servants.
On the 1901 Census William was a boarder at Kings School, Upton, Warwickshire. His parents were living at Abbotsford Road, Galashiels.
William attended Lincoln College, Oxford.
On the 1911 Census William was an undergraduate lodging with the widow Griggs at Zennor, Cornwall and his parents and sister Gwendoline were living in 85 Dukes Avenue, Chiswick, London.
He was appointed to the India Office on 19 Nov 1912 as a junior clerk in the Public Works Department.
William married Gwendoline Elizabeth May Johnson in 1915
Wartime Service
On 9 Jan 1914 William, now a temporary 2nd Lieutenant, was transferred from Cavalry Reserve Regiment to the General list. He was appointed to Northumberland Fusiliers in 1st Battalion but was attached to 1st/4th Battalion. At some time William was attached to 12th (Service) Battalion. During 1916 this battalion as part of 21 Division took part in the Somme Battles of Flers-Courcelette and Morval in Sep 1916 and Transloy in Oct 1916. William was killed in action on 25 Oct 1916.
Additional Information
Arrears of £104 17s 7d was paid to his widow , she also received probate of £1714 14s 3d.
*1 After William died his parents' address was recorded as Potters Bar, it may be that Francis has no direct connection to Potters Bar.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
