Name
William Bygrave
10 October 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/09/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
119638
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
74th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
William Bygrave was born in Baldock, Herts on 10 October 1898, the son of William and Lizzie Bygrave (nee Chessum), and was baptised on 27 November 1898 in Baldock. He was one of eleven children, although five died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at The Bulls Head, Norton Street, Baldock, where his father was the publican. They remained there in 1911.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and joined the Army in March 1917. After his initial training he was posted to Egypt and whilst en route his troopship was torpedoed and sunk. Luckily, William was rescued after some eight hours in the water. He was in Egypt for six weeks recovering from his experience.
On 8 March 1918 he was posted to France where he was killed on 21 September. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £9 4s 3d. Pension cards exist with his mother as dependant but give no indication if a pension was granted.
His parents later lived at 22 Cemetery Road, Baldock.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
