Name
William Harold Ayto
24/07/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
206971
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GODEWAERSVELDE BRITISH CEMETERY
I. C. 54.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
He was born on 25 July 1891 (and baptised 23 August 1891) in Burley in Wharfedale , the son of Samuel and Emily (nee Snowdon). He was the third son, his two older brothers were George E and Ambrose, aged 9 and 1 in 1891 census, William Harold was always known by his second name, Harold. Samuel was butler to William Fison, a mill-owner, Greenholme, Burley in Wharfedale.
In 1901 the family, consisting of parents Samuel and Emily, and elder brother Ambrose (age 11) were living at 72 Castle Road, Scarborough.
William Fison died in 1901 and during the 1900s, the family moved to Hitchin where Samuel continued his profession of butler. (Unfortunately, this was not a "lived-in" role and I have been unable to establish who he worked for).
By 1911, Harold, now 19, was living with his parents at 8 Chalkdell Terrace, Union Path, Hitchin, and they were recorded as having three children, all of whom were living, but apart from William had moved out.
William Harold Ayto started work at Melia's Stores in Hitchin (which was taken over by the Home and Colonial) and he was in the choir of St. John's Church, Hitchin.
He married Ellen Louisa Pearce, daughter of John and Ann Pearce of 59 Old Park Road, Hitchin and sister of Walter Charles Pearce, also commemorated on Hitchin War Memorial. They had one son, Harold Samuel, born in 1915
Harold resided had Dunstable and presumably lived there with his family, as he enlisted there on the 25th October 1916
Wartime Service
At first he was in the Suffolk Regiment with the Regimental Number 290677. He went to France on the 22nd June 1917. Later he joined the 11th Battalion of the Royal West Surreys with the Regimental Number T/206971. This Battalion was the 11th (Lambeth) Battalion of the Regiment which was part of the 123rd Brigade in the 41st Division of X Corps of the 2nd Army. He was wounded in action and died before reaching hospital at the end of the Battle of Pilckem.
He is buried in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 54 at Godewaersvelde British Cemetery near Mont des Cats in the Ypres Salient. The close proximity of the graves suggests that the bodies were placed side by side which coincides with the presence of Casualty Clearing Stations nearby. In July 1918 the 11th, 37th and 41st Casualty Clearing Stations were stationed nearby. He is buried next to a German soldier.
Additional Information
When he died, his widows address was given as 59 Old Park Road, Hitchin, and then later as 69 Tilehouse Street. This was the Old Free School, Hitchin which became the Pearce family home. She initially received his pay owing of £4 11s 1dand then his war gratuity of £3 authorised 9 December 1919 authorised on 20 November 1917, and later was awarded a pension of 18s 9d a week from 18 February 1918 to expire when her son Samuel reached 16.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Jennifer Ferguson (Ayto) (granddaughter)
