Name
William George Prince
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
534931
London Regiment *1
15th (County of Lon) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. JULIEN DRESSING STATION CEMETERY
Plot II, Row K, Grave 17.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of William and Lily Jane (nee SWABEY) PRINCE of Watford.
His parents married 8 June 1895 at St Andrew’s, Watford. William died 1934 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 21 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Lily died 1936 in Watford aged 64, and was buried 31 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 14 May 1896 in Watford, and baptised 15 July 1896 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 9 September 1910.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a mechanical engineering apprentice aged 14, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action whilst posted to the 12th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (The Rangers).
Additional Information
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 29 September 1917; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 7 September 1918.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
