Name
William Castle
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31911
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROMERIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
III. E. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
William was born in Hitchin, around 1898 and baptised on 16 April 1898 and his parents were William and Ellen Castle (née)
In 1901 the family were living at 4 Blackhorse Lane, Hitchin. Present were parents: William (33) and Ellen Castle with William and working as a navy for G.N.R. Their children were: Maud (9), Ellen (7), Alice (5), William (3) and Levi at 3 months. Ann Castle (74) a mother-in-law was also present.
By 1911 the family were living at 7 St Andrew's Place, Hitchin at. Present were both parents, William now working as a labourer for Hitchin Urban District Council. The census recorded that they had been married for 22 years with 11 children of whom 2 had died. All the children listed above were present except Maud and Alice, plus Bernard (7), George (5), Phyllis (2) and Sydney (1).
Before he enlisted he worked for Messrs. Barker, timber merchants.
Officially recorded as born and living in Hitchin when he enlisted Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted as a volunteer in Bedford in 1915, was allocated the Regimental Number 31911 and went to France in the same year and then in Italy for 5 months. He served with the 1st Battalion of the Bedfords on the Somme, Arras and Ypres and was killed in action during the great advance of 1918.
He was home on leave about 8-weeks before he died.
He was engaged in an attack which started about 100 yards north east of Beaurain. Heavy fire was directed onto the assembly area both by the Germans and our own guns causing about I 00 casualties. The attack was not delayed although the Battalion was considerably under strength and commenced its advance at 3.20am and the objective, a ridge about 500 yards north east of Beaurain, was achieved. The action resulted in the deaths of 2 officers, 14 other ranks, 5 other ranks missing, 7 officers wounded and 105 other ranks wounded. 90% of the casualties were caused by the barrages on the assembly line. That night the Battalion returned to Caudry.
He is buried in Plot 3, Row E, Grave 12 in the Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Additional Information
William’s body was found at map reference 57B. E23, c. 20.50 before re-burial.
After his death £4 12s 6d was authorised to go to his father on 17 February 1017 and later a war gratuity of £8 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 14 February 1919.
His pension cards record Ellen Castle, his mother, as his dependant, living at 15 St Andrews’s Place, Hitchin. She received a pension of 6s 6d a week from 13 May 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
