Name
William Randall Shadbolt
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10787
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, St. Peter's Church Memorial, Gustard Wood
Pre War
William Randall Shadbolt was born in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, in 1893, son of Samuel Shadbolt, an, agricultural worker and Lizzie Maria (nee Fitzjohn). William was one of seven children, two having died in infancy.
William was baptised on 30 April 1893, in the Parish Church, Wheathampstead, Herts.
The 1901 Census records William aged 7, his mother Lizzie and together with May (born 1890, Cyril John (born1893), Annie (born 1897) and Alice (born 1899) living with his Grandparents William and Edith Fitzjohn in Gustard Wood, Herts.
On the 1911 Census William, now aged 18, in work as a Shepherd, his mother, Cyril John, and Alice were still living with his Grandparents in Gustard Wood.
Wartime Service
William enlisted at St. Albans, joining the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 10787, (his service number indicated he enlisted between 12 Dec 1914 & 3 Jan 1915) posted to the 2nd Battalion. After his initial training William arrived in France to join the Battalion in the field (a draft of 25 Other Ranks 11 Sep 1915 mentioned in the War Diary).
On 1 Jul 1916 (Battles of the Somme) 2nd battalion were a support battalion for the initial attack and were able to occupy support trenches taken in enemy positions. On the night of 10/11 Jul 1916 the 2nd Battalion were ordered to attack Trones Wood, supposedly lightly held by the Germans, but their attack was fiercely defended and any gains were hard won. William was reported killed in this action on 11 July 1916.
He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing in France.
Additional Information
His mother was awarded a dependents pension of 5/- per week from 24 Apr 1917, increased by 5/- to 10/- from 25 Jan 1919, her address was Amwell, Wheathampstead, Herts. His effects of £4-19s-1d, Pay Owing and £6-10s-0d, War Gratuity were split between his mother and father.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
