Name
William Allson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/14446
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial
Pre War
William was born in Wheathampstead in 1878 to William Allson, a watch and clockmaker, and Hannah (nee Nash). On the 1881 Census William was living at East Lane with his parents, elder brother Sam (born 1870) and sisters Sarah (born 1867), Kate (born 1873), Mary (born 1875) and Agnes (born 1877).
On the 1891 Census William was living with his parents only at 14, High Street, Wheathampstead and on the 1901 Census he is recorded as a watch cleaner at Station Road, Wheathampstead. He had married Florence Turkentine in 1899 in St Albans District, and on the 1911 Census were living at The Hill, Wheathampstead with Children Winifred (born 1902), Jessie (born 1904), Florence (born 1907), William (born 1907) and Mary Jean (born 1909).
Wartime Service
William was enlisted as Private G/14446 in the Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. No Service record could be found for William but his enlistment was probably at some time in 1916.
He was posted to 10th (Service) Battalion but later transferred to 1st Battalion and may have joined them in the field as a replacement when they were positioned in the Arras area in the spring of 1917. As part of the Arras Offensive the 1st Battalion Queens took part in the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe (23 – 24 Apr 1917).
William was presumed to have died in action on 23 Apr 1917 and as his remains were not recovered He is remembered on Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and Arrears of £2 12s 7d was paid to his widow, who also received a weekly pension of £1 16s 3d on behalf of the children. His older brother Sam served with 2 Battalion Bedfordshire regiment from1893 to 1905 including service in South Africa 1899 – 1902
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
