Name
William Henry Rackley
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Bombardier
120090
Royal Garrison Artillery
203rd Siege Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
VIII. Q. 38.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Not on the Bovingdon memorials
Pre War
William Henry Rackley was born in Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead on 20 December 1888, the son of Henry and Henrietta Rackley, and baptised at Paul's Church, Langley Bury, Herts on 7 April 1889. He was one of three children, but one died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at St James, Fulham London where his father was working as a Labourer. By 1901 they had moved to 17 Meyrick Road, Willesden where his father was working as a Hay Binder.
He married Rose Saunders on 24 September 1910 at St Mellitus Church, Hanwell and they were living at 37 Argyle Street, West Hendon, Middlesex on the 1911 Census. William was then working as a Hay Binder on a farm. They had two children, William in 1913 and Violet in 1916.
The family were living at 106 Judge Street, Watford on enlistment and William gave his occupation as Hay Cutter.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Watford on 29 May 1916 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was sent to Clipstone, Notts for training from 2 October 1916 and was appointed Gunner on 30 September 1916. He had further training at Aldershot in April 1917 and Lydd in May 1917.
He was sent to France on 17 July 1917 from Southampton, arriving at Le Havre the following day and joining the 376th Siege Battery in the field on 27 July 1917.
On 20 February 1918 he was promoted to Lance Bombardier but was killed in action on 13 April 1918. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, north of Arras, France.
Additional Information
His widow Rose received pay owing of £10 18s 6d and Mary A Saunders received the war gratuity of £6 10s. Rose, died on 5 December 1918 and her mother Mary Ann Saunders received a pension of £1 13s 4d in respect of her care of the children, William and Violet.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild,
