Name
William Thomas Brace
9 Feb 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265898
Kent Cyclist Bn.
1st/1st
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DALHOUSIE MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot 5. Grave 16.
India
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, Not on the North Mymms memorials
Pre War
William Thomas was born in Little Heath, Potters Bar on 9 Feb 1890 (baptised 30 Mar 1890, Little Berkhampstead) to Thomas Brace, Nursery carman, and Annie Maria (nee Hummerstone).
On the 1891 census the family of parents, Abigail Elizabeth (born 1885), John Day (born 1887), Elizabeth Emily (born 1889) and William Thomas were living at Upton Cottages, Coopers Road, Little Heath.
The 1901 Census at the family of parents, Abigail, John Day, Elizabeth Emily, William Thomas, George (born 1892), Percy (born 1896 died 1903), James Henry (born 1898), Ernest Stephen (born 1898) and Annie (born 1901) were living at Thornton Road, Little Heath, North Mimms
On the 1911 census still at Thornton Road, William was a gardener and living with his parents Thomas and Annie Brace John Day (a gardener), Elizabeth Emily, George (farm labourer), Henry (James), Ernest), Stephen and Annie.
His father Thomas (born 1851 in Buntingford) was a Carman at a nursery, Mother Annie Maria b. 1860, we can presume that his parents were still living in Little Heath in the 1920s as their details are shown on the War Graves entry, in 1901. William and his 8 siblings were all born in Little Heath.
Wartime Service
William attested on 10 Feb 1915 at Canterbury as a Private in the 2/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion (a Territorial Formation) and given service number TF/1753. He was at Kingsnorth Camp in September 1915. William was posted to the 1/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion on 27 Nov 1915. On 2 Dec 1915 the battalion moved to Chisledon Camp, Swindon, Wiltshire, and was reorganised as an infantry battalion. The Battalion (now named 1/1st Kent Battalion sailed for India on 8 Feb 1916 heading for Bangalore, they moved in Dec 1916 to Burhan, Punjab. In Feb 1917 William's Brigade transferred to the 16th Indian Division and from 4 Mar 1917 – 1 May 1917 the battalion served as part of the North Waziristan Field Force fighting local uprisings in that area. William spent 19 June -3 July 1917 in hospital at Bannu, North West Frontier with food poisoning. He died from malaria 4 Sep 1917. He had been given service number 265898 when Territorial Forces were renumbered in March 1917.
William was interred at Dalhousie Military Cemetery, India and he is also remembered on the Kirkee Memorial, Pune (Poonah), Mumbai (Bombay), India.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 10s and arrears of £14 2s 2d (inc gratuity of £3) was paid to his mother. Brother John Day Brace served with Royal Fusiliers and was killed in action on 27 Mar 1918.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope, Mike Allen
