Name
William Henry Randle (poss Randall)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/02/1919
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19159
Royal Army Medical Corps
17th Field Ambulance
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Plot G, Row 1, Grave 944.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the St Alban's memorials
Pre War
Son of Benjamin and the late Maria Jane (nee BRINKMAN) RANDLE; husband of Alice Mabel (nee ROADNIGHT) RANDLE of Watford.
His parents married 10 January 1884 at St Mary’s, Watford. Maria died 1903 in Watford aged 42, and was buried 23 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery. Benjamin remarried 1 June 1909 at Christ Church, Mayfair, London, to Amy BIRCH. Amy died 24 April 1942 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 29 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Benjamin died 28 September 1943 in Watford aged 89, and was buried 2 October, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 25 February 1885 in St Alban’s, Herts, and baptised 31 May 1885 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 17 October to 18 November [sic] 1892; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 7 November [sic] 1892 to 2 June 1893. He married 22 March 1911 at Christ Church, Watford; they had two children. He died in Watford and was buried 18 February. Alice never remarried, she died 2 April 1946 in Watford aged 59, and was buried 6 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, aged 6 he lived in St Alban’s, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, a paper cutter at cocoa factory aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps aged 26, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and no children.
Wartime Service
He originally attested 4 August 1904 for Short Service (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserves)in London: a railway porter aged 19, 5’6½” tall, C of E. Attended the R.A.M.C. Training School, Aldershot, from 21 December 1904 and was appointed to the Nursing Section 22 August 1905. He was awarded the Good Conduct Badge 3 August 1906, extended his service to seven years with the Colours 16 August 1906, and was transferred to the Army Reserve 3 August 1911.
He was then mobilised, and posted to No. 17 Field Ambulance 6 August 1914. He served at Home altogether from 4 August 1904 to 11 September 1914, and in France 12 September to 13 October 1914. He was admitted to hospital with influenza 2 October 1914, transferred to No. 12 General Hospital 4 October 1914, and transferred to England with rheumatic fever 13 October 1914. He was discharged 12 November 1914 having been found medically and physically unfit for further service, suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs as a result of active service. He was 29, 5’7″ tall, of Watford; of exemplary character, and left totally incapacitated and confined to bed. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 12 September 1914, and the Silver War Badge issued 18 December 1916.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
