Name
William Savill(e)
15/06/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23435
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11A
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Goff's Oak Village Memorial, Goff's Oak Street Name, Cheshunt Town Memorial
Pre War
William Savill/Saville was born 15th June 1894, at Broadfield Farm, Cheshunt, the youngest of seven children of John and Hannah Savill/Saville (nee Brown) .
William was Baptised on 5th August 1894, in the Parish of Cheshunt, Herts.
Attending St Marys Infants school, Cheshunt, from April 1900 to May 1902, when he went to Dewhurst Endowed Boys School, Cheshunt, until July 1908 when he left to start work.
1901 Census, recorded as Savill, William aged 6, is at school, living with his parents, brothers John (19), Arthur (14) and sister Lily (11) at Broadfield Farm, Cheshunt, Herts, where his father was a Cattleman.
1911 Census, recorded as Saville, the family were still living at Broadfield Farm, where William (16), his father and his two brothers were employed as a farm labourer.
Wartime Service
On 12th December 1915, he enlisted at Cheshunt, aged 21, he was posted to the Army Reserve on 13th December 1915. Mobilized for war service on 22nd January 1916. Posted to the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, on the 24th January 1916 and issued with the service number 25404.
Transferred to the 3rd Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 26th June 1916, with the new service number 23435.
He was sent to France on 1st July 1916 and joined the 9th Battalion at Etaples on the 2nd July. Seeing action at the Battle of the Somme (Battle of the Somme 1st July to 18th November 1916) he was posted missing presumed killed in action on 3rd September 1916. He has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, to the missing.
Additional Information
His mother Hannah received a dependents pension of 8/6 a week from 10th July 1917. By then the family were living in St James Road, Goffs Oak, Herts. Hannah also received his effects of £2-9s-4d pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
In June 1997 Broxbourne Borough Council received a suggestion from the Chairman of Goffs Oak Community Association to name roads to commemorate the men who lost their lives in the two world wars who are displayed on the Goffs Oak War Memorial. It was decided that these names should be used for the large development in Hammond Street Road, this soldier has one of the surnames chosen: "Saville Close" – the reason for the names selected (as opposed to others) is not known.
The SDITGW record his service number as 23445 this is incorrect (should be 23435), they also record his Bedfordshire Regiment service number as 25494 this is also incorrect (should be 25404).
His service records survived and are available on-line.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge
