Name
William Percy Reginald Cole
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
53693
Royal Army Medical Corps
44th Field Amb.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY
II. F. 16.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Watford memorials (*1)
Pre War
Son of Ellen Elizabeth (nee FOURACRE) and the late Walter COLE; husband of Margaret S (nee GRIFFITHS) COLE of Watford.
His parents married 6 April 1885 at St Philip’s, Kensington, London. Walter died 1913 in the Paddington, London, district aged 55.
William was born 1895 in Kensington, and married 1916 in the St Asaph, Denbigh, district.
Recorded as born in Kensington, Middx. and enlisted Bornemouth, Hants.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Kensington, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a footman aged 17, he lived in Bournemouth.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bournemouth, Hants; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 21 May 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
*1 At present we do not know if his connection through his wife is his only connection to Watford. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
