Name
Alfred Rackley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/10/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31336
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
Plot XIII, Row F, Grave 19.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Croxley Green Memorials
Pre War
Son of William and the late Annie/Ann (nee COXHILL) RACKLEY.
His parents married 12 April 1884 at All Saints, Croxley Green, Herts. Annie died 1905 in Watford aged 45, and was buried 12 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. William remarried 23 March 1912 at St Mary’s, Watford, to Mary Ann HOW. He died 1934 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 1 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Mary died 1936 in Watford aged 78, and was buried 19 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Alfred was born 18 August 1890 in Croxley Green, and baptsied 2 November 1890 at All Saints, Croxley Green. He attended first Red Lion Yard Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 17 January 1898 to 29 July 1904. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 months he lived in Croxley Green, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a chocolate moulder aged 20, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed father and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action in the front line near Mount Sorrell.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Alfred’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There are articles about Alfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 7 April 1917, 25 August 1917 and 3 November 1917 (including a Death announcement); plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 5 October 1918 and 11 October 1919. His brother Albert died 31 July 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
