Name
William Thomas Cole
16 May 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
4188
London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
1st/8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 C and 9 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley War Memorial, St Botolph's Church Memorial, Shenleybury (now lost) (*1), Family grave, St Botolph's graveyard
Pre War
William Thomas Cole was born in East Haddon, Northamptonshire on 16 May 1897, the son of William and Elizabeth Cole and one of five children. He was baptised on 5 July 1897 in East Haddon.
The family moved to Shenley village prior to the 1901 Census and his youngest brother Herbert was born there in late 1900. His father worked as a sexton and gardener domestic. They remained in the village in 1911 and William was then working as a Post Office Telegraph Messenger, with his father's occupation being given as parish clerk to St Botolph's Church, Shenley.
Before enlistment, William was worked as a postman at the General Post Office in Harrow.
His parents later lived at Frances Cottage, Shenley.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Harrow and his regimental number of 4188 suggests he enlisted in July 1915. He served with the 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
William was killed in action on 17 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, aged 20. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £4 10s and pay owing of £4. No pension appears to have been claimed.
*1 Believed named on the lost memorial.
N.B. St Botolph's Church was the old church of Shenley and was made redundant in 1972. It is now a private home.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
