Name
William George Rickett
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3451
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
3rd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEBUTERNE MILITARY CEMETERY
IV. E. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON BILLY WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
We are not aware of a Memorial at Bucks Hill, Not on the Chipperfield Memorials, St Paul's Church and Parish Memorial, Hammersmith
Pre War
William George Rickett was born in 1895, in Bucks Hill, Hertfordshire, son of William Rickett and Ester (nee Elkins) Rickett. The second of three children, Daisy (B 1894) and Ada (B 1897).
He was Christened on 6 October 1895, in the Parish Church, Kings Langley, Herts.
It is not known when the family moved from Bucks Hill. The 1901 Census records William aged 6, living with his parents, sisters Daisy 7, and Ada 4, at, 36, Coningham Road, Hammersmith, London/Middx.
1911 Census records William aged 16, employed as a Porter at “The Trocaderos” living with his parents and sisters Daisy and Ada, at, 3, Great Church Street Chambers, Hammersmith, London/Middx.
Wartime Service
William enlisted at The Paddington Armory, 207-209, Harrow Road, London/Middx, the HQ of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and issued with the service number 3451, (His service number was issued between January & March 1915).
He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of The Somme (1 July 1916), during the attack on the Gommecourt Salient. He is buried in the CWGC Hebuterne Military Cemetery, France.
At the time the 3rd Battalion was part of the 167th Brigade, 56th (London) Division.
Additional Information
His father, Mr. W. Rickett, 91, Valletta Road, Acton Vale, W.3. ordered his headstone inscription: "IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON BILLY WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN".
His effects of £2-13s-00d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £6, went to his father William Rickett.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
