Name
William John Andrews
28 December 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20467
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.2
XVII. K. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN LIFE, IN DEATH O LORD ABIDE WITH ME
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Therfield, Therfield Chapel Memorial
Pre War
William John Andrews was born in Therfield, Hertfordshire on 28 December 1889, the youngest son of William John and Sarah Ann Andrews (nee Preston), and was baptised on 18 February 1890 in Therfield.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at The Thrift, Therfield where his father was working as a shepherd. His older brother Frederick aged 10 was working as an agricultural labourer, also living there were his mother Sarah, brothers Walter, Josiah, and Jack and sisters Mary and Bessie.
They remained in Therfield in 1901 living next to the Thrift at the The Jockey House at which time 11 year old William and older brothers Jack (13) and Jack (16) were all working as agricultural labourers.
His father died in December 1909 and on the 1911 Census William was living with his widowed mother, and brother Jack and was working as a farm labourer. Also living with them were his mother's grandchildren, William John Edwards aged 4 and Sarah Ann Edwards aged 8 months.
His mother later lived at 5a, Holywell Hill, St. Albans.
Wartime Service
William was working for Farmer H. J. Fordham when he enlisted in Royston in 1914 as Private 20467 in the 8th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment. After training he was sent to the battlefront on 30 August 1915 and would have soon seen action at the Battle of Loos in September.
According to the ‘Crow’ newspaper he was injured on October 9th. His battalion war diary extract appears below: This was near to Vlamertinghe in Belgium.
9 Oct 1915 Hd. Qrs. A & B. & C. Coys. proceeded to trenches & relieved A. & D. Coys. who returned to billets. Casualties - Wounded O.R.1 (This was our William).
WILLIAM was wounded in the back and left foot and was returned to a Newcastle hospital for 4 months recuperation. He was sent back to the front in April 1916. His battalion was moved down to the Somme in early August 1916 as reinforcements, after the July onset of the Battle of the Somme when there had been so many casualties.
In September the battalion went into intensive training and preparation for the 4th Army offensive planned for 15th. As can be seen from the war diary extract below, most of the casualties were as a result of our artillery barrage being short of their target and ‘this mistake caused many casualties’ known as ‘friendly fire’! Also the tanks did not arrive!
15 Sep 1916 [Comment: The Battle of the Somme 1916 - The Battle of Flers-Courcelette] Battalion ordered to take QUADRILATERAL assisted by the Heavy Section of the M.G. Corps with "TANKS" advance about 500 yds NE and dig in. Battn was in a position for attack about 4.30 a.m. ZERO hour 6.20 a.m. Three wavs were supplied by D, D [sic] and A Coys under Capt Hatch [Robert Bernard Lawson HATCH, MC], 2/Lt Hodges [Archibald Gordon HODGES] and Lt Draisey [Edwin Roland Watts DRAISEY] respectively to attack the QUADRILATERAL, which was on our left flank, whilst B Coy co-operated by bombing down trench leading to it. At 6.0 a.m. heavy artillery opened slow barrage on Line MORVAL - LES BOEUFS. At ZERO hour (6.20 a.m.) intense artillery barrage opened and unluckily was cut short where our 3 companies were drawn up for the attack in shell holes. This mistake caused many casualties. Our attacking companies pushed forward and though supported by 1/The Buffs and later re-enforced by the 2/York & Lancaster Regt failed to take the position. "TANKS" did not arrive to assist and the position was not heavily shelled previous to the attack. Brigade ordered original trenches to be held and await orders. As battalion had suffered very severely in casualties, 6 Officers killed and 7 wounded we were relieved by 2/Y & L at 6.0.p.m. and put in brigade reserve in trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT.
William was killed on this day (15 September 1916) and is buried in the massive Serre Rd. Cemetery no. 2 in plot XV11, row K, grave 4. His mother, who was now recorded as living at 5a, Holywell Hill, St. Albans would have received his 3 medals, the 1915 Star, the War and Victory Medals as well as his memorial plaque, often known as the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £3 18s 8d. She also received a pension of 4s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley
