Name
William James Andrews
22nd April 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1916
25 years.
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16520
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Battalion.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
VI.K.15
France
Headstone Inscription
"AT REST PEACE PERFECT PEACE"
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield War Memorial, In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Book, Hatfield, Welwyn Village Memorial, Welwyn, St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn
Pre War
William was born in Welwyn, Herts on 22 April 1891, the only child of Arthur William Andrews (B 1861 in Hatfield) (a Baker) and Elizabeth Andrews (B 1872 in Welwyn) and baptised on 17 May 1891 at St Mary’s Church, Welwyn. The Church register records the family as living in Hertford at the time he was Baptised.
1901 Census records William aged 9, living with his parents at 7, Frampton Street, Hertford. : His Father, Arthur was a journeyman baker who was born in Hatfield. His Mother named Elizabeth was born in Welwyn.
1911 Census records he was living with his mother, still at 7 Frampton Street, Hertford, where he was working as a trimmer, at the skin mills making chamois leather.
Officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hatfield.
Wartime Service
He was posted to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as Private No. 16520.
His medal card indicates he served in France and Flanders from 27 April 1915. William was wounded in action and died of his wounds at No. 2 Stationary Hospital, France, on 8th August 1916. He is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of September 1916 recorded: “William Andrews has died of wounds in hospital in France. He was not strictly speaking of Hatfield but often came to see his Aunts who lived here, and to whom his death comes as a terrible shock. He was a good soldier, as many in the Regiment could testify. Much sympathy to his Father and aunts in their great need.”
Awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal, and 1914/15 Star.
Additional Information
His father, A. Andrews Esq. Pond Hill, Hatfield, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "AT REST PEACE PERFECT PEACE"
His effects of £3-3s-11d, pay owing and £9, War gratuity awarded to his father Arthur.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Paul Jiggens, Welwyn and District History Society - www.welwynww1.co.uk, Brenda Palmer, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
