Name
Wilfred Anning
27 June 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/08/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/13463
King's Royal Rifle Corps
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
XV. K. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
GB Kent & Sons (Kent Brushes) Memorial, Apsley, Bovingdon Memorial Hall Memorial, St Michael & All Angels Memorial, Watford, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the Hemel Hempstead Town memorial
Pre War
Son of George and Anna/Susan Ann (nee RICHARDS) ANNING.
His parents married 1888 in the Axminster, Devon, district. Anna died 1931 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 16 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; George died 1939 in the Watford district aged 73.
Wilfred was born 27 June 1893 in Pembroke Dock, Wales [not Bovingdon, Herts]. He attended Whelpley Hill School, Bucks; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 March 1901 to 28 June 1907.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at 110 Harwood Road, Watford, his father was working as a Carman and Wilfred was aged 7 and there with his parents and four siblings.
Wilfred attended Whelpley Hill School, Bucks, then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford from 11 March 1901 to 28 June 1907 and by 1911 he was working as a golf caddy and living at home at 110 Harwood Road, Watford.
Wilfred now had six (or eight) siblings.
On enlistment in Watford he was employed by Kent's Brushes, Apsley, Herts.
(N.B. The Soldiers Who Died in the Great War records show his birthplace as Bovingdon, Herts, although this is incorrect, he must have had some connection as his name is listed in Bovingdon Memorial Hall).
Wartime Service
He volunteered in 1915 in Watford and served with the 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps in France from 18 September 1915.
He was killed in action on 24 August 1916 during the Attack of Ale Alley, part of the Battle of the Somme, and is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 September 1915.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Wilfred’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a Death announcement for Wilfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 23 September 1916.Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. His father George received a war gratuity of £4 10s and pay owing of £7 14s 9d. His mother received a pension; however the amount is not known.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Dick West, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), www.iwm.org.uk, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk
