Name
William Poulton
24 January 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/12/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Able Seaman
R/3921
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Nelson Bn. R.N. Div.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FIFTEEN RAVINE BRITISH CEMETERY, VILLERS-PLOUICH
V. A. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Aspenden Village Memorial
Pre War
William Poulton was born on 24 January 1884 in Aspenden, the son of John and Mary Poulton and was baptised there on 30 March 1884. He was one of seven children, but one died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in Aspenden village where his father was working as a postman. He remained with his parents in the village in 1901 at which time he was working as a carpenter. In 1911 he was still a carpenter and was living at the Post Office in Aspenden. Although his father was a retired postman, his brother Frank was then a postman and his mother and sister Edith were both postmistresses.
He married Alice Lily Bale at St James' Church, Taunton, Somerset on 24 April 1916. She later lived at 9 Church Road, Upper Weston, Bath, Somerset.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in 24 June 1916 and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, serving with the British Expeditionary Force from 18 October 1917 with the Nelson Battalion.
William was killed on 15 December 1917, aged 33, and is buried in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a pension of 13s 9d a week. She obtained probate of his estate in Bristol on 18 July 1918 with effects of £386 7s 7d.
William is also commemorated on the family headstone in Aspenden (St. Mary) churchyard in Aspenden, his inscription reads:
“. . . In loving memory of William Poulton
‘The Beloved Husband of Alice Poulton Killed in action on the Cambrai Front Dec. 15th 1917. Age 33."
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
