Name
William Joseph P Scotcher
12 Oct 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Acting Bombardier
148
Australian Heavy Artillery
36th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. NICOLAS BRITISH CEMETERY
I. G. 22.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial(s), Hockerill
Pre War
William Joseph P Scotcher was born in Bishop's Stortford on 12 Oct 1890 to Robert Scotcher, a domestic gardener, and Clara (nee Pechey), the second youngest of 10 children.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents (Robert was now a railway servant), Percy, an errand boy, (born 1877), Latimer (born 1880), Bessie (born 1881), Agatha Moss (born 1882), Clara (born 1886), Lizzie Wayman (born 1889), and William were living at New Town Road, Bishop's Stortford. Father Robert died in 1900. Also there was a sister Eva Teresa (born 1886) but not recorded.
On the 1901 Census William was living with his widowed mother, Latimer, a laundry carman, Agatha Moss, a dressmaker, Eva, a nursery maid, William, Robert (born 1893), and John (born 1897) at Grove Cottages, New Town Road, Bishop's Stortford. His mother died in 1904.
He enlisted on 27 Sept 1906 into the Royal Marines Light Infantry, Chatham Division under service number 15223. On the 1911 Census he is recorded on board the Royal Navy ship HMS Powerful in Sydney, Australia as a musician. His instruments were violin and cornet. His service sheet shows that on 10 Oct 1911 under discharge he ran ship (naval term for desertion) and remained in Australia. William married Charlotte Ellen Blair and they had a child William born in 1914.
He joined the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery on 30 Jul 1912.
Wartime Service
William was still serving when he volunteered (with service number 148) for the Siege Brigade in the Australian Imperial Force at South Head, New South Wales on 5 Jun 1915. He was said to be a musician on enlistment and his religion was Wesleyan Methodist. He was appointed Acting Bombardier on 22 Jul 1915 whilst also holding the position of Bandmaster. His Unit became part of 36th Heavy Artillery Group when they arrived in France in 1916.
He died from a gunshot wound on 23 April 1917(Possibly during Battle of Arras)
Additional Information
A pension of £2 9s per fortnight was granted from 18 July 1917 for his widow and £1 per fortnight for their son William. Last known address of widow 1 Willoughby Street, Milson’s Point, Sydney.
Brother to John Scotcher of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry who drowned at sea on 15 April 1917 and is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt. Brother Robert served with Hertfordshire Yeomanry as Private 13992 and later as 14879 in Corps of Dragoons, surviving the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
