Name
William Henry Braunton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
68491
Royal Field Artillery
“X” 1st Trench Mortar Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. PATRICK'S CEMETERY, LOOS
Sp.m.13
France
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
William was born in 1881 in Bideford, Devon the son of John and Fanny Braunton. His father was described as an Agricultural Labourer in 1881 and as a Farmer in 1891.
William was brought up in Devon and in 1901 age 20 was in the household of John Hobbs, a Farmer, and described as a Servant and Horse Man on farm. In 1908 he married Mary Ann Elizabeth Tibbles on the 24th of December in Rickmansworth and a daughter, Mary Frances, was born in 1910. The 1911 census found them living in Island Cottage, Batchworth, William being a General Labourer.
A son, Glyn J B Braunton was born in 1913. In 1916 William’s wife, died in the Samaritan Free Hospital Marylebone age 31 while William was serving in France. She was buried in Rickmansworth on the 30th of March her address at the time being Stanley Cottages.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
William was killed in action, possibly near St Eloi, but the circumstances have not yet been traced.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
