Name
William Blackwell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
413573
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Blackwell was first identified in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley for Autumn 1919 where his address was given at Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley. His brother Jesse Blackwell also served in the Great War, and was also identified from the Absent Voter Records. Neither man was included in any other Parish records. William’s Service Record has survived and indicated that he attested at Watford on 17th February 1916, one week after his brother Jesse.
William was nearly 37 years old when he attested. He noted that he was living at Railway Terrace and that his occupation was a Printing Machine Minder. He was immediately posted to the Army Reserve on 18th February 1916, and it wasn’t until 26th April 1918 that he was called for a Medical at Watford. On 23rd July 1918 William joined and was posted. He received his vaccinations on 31st July 1918 and on 14th August joined the Army Service Corps Motor Transport section (ASCMT) at Isleworth. William passed his Learner’s Test on 19th October, and on 6th November 1918 embarked on the SS “Scotia” at Dover and disembarked at Calais the same day. The hostilities ended on 11th November 1918, however on 19th November he was posted to the 29th Motor Transport Company, and found himself working at the 1st Repair Shop on 3rd December.
William was granted Leave from 23rd April to 7th May 1919 but continued to serve with the ASCMT until later in the summer of that year. On 15th August he was sent for release, and the next day arrived at the Dispersal Centre at Purfleet. William was eventually demobilised on 12th September 1919 to 31 Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley.
William Blackwell was born in April 1879 at Abbots Langley. He was one of five children (four sons and one daughter) born to George and Mary Blackwell. The family lived at Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley and in the 1881 Census George worked as a Labourer. The family continued to live at Railway Terrace. George was recorded working as a Coal Labourer in 1901 Census and a Coal Merchant in the 1911 Census. William was employed by a Paper Manufacturer, presumably John Dickinson’s Paper Mills in the Gade Valley, as a Card Gilder in 1901 and a Paper Worker in 1911.
William Blackwell survived the War, as did his brother Jesse.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
