Name
William Jesse Colley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/10/1918
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
64263
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
Plot V, Row F, Grave 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Wealdstone War Memorial, Middlesex
Pre War
Son of George and Eliza Agnes Whiteman (nee GROOM) COLLEY late of Watford; husband of Rose (nee KING) COLLEY of Wealdstone, Middx.
His parents married 16 March 1867 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Eliza died 7 July 1919 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 11 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; George died 18 September 1925 in Watford aged 82, and was buried 23 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 19 October 1878 in Watford, and attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Victoria Boys’ School, Watford, from 9 February 1885. He married 25 August 1895 at St James’, Bushey; they had nine children. Rose never remarried, and died 1966 in the Harrow, Middx, district aged 89.
On the 1881 Census, aged 2 he lived in Oxhey, Herts, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1891 Census, aged 12 he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, a gardener aged 23, he lived in Watford, with his wife and three children. On the 1911 Census, a market gardener’s labourer aged 38, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and six children.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 34209 SUffolk Regiment and Private 41252 Essex Regiment. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
There is an In Memoriam for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 18 October 1919.
William is also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF W. J. COLLEY.
DIED IN FRANCE OCTOBER 15TH 1918.
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)
