Name
William James Hemmings
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
373559
Labour Corps
750th Area Employment Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Hemmings was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records. In the Absent Voter Records William was listed serving as a Sergeant with the 750th Area Employment Company of the Labour Corps. In the Absent Voter Records William’s address was listed at Nash Mills.
The Area Employment Companies were formed in 1917 as part of the Labour Corps. They were mainly engaged in salvage work and included officers and men who had been medically rated below the “A1” condition needed to serve at the Front Line. Many of the men were returning to service after recovery from being wounded. Labour Corps units were often deployed for work within range of the enemy guns, and sometimes for lengthy periods. It is not known if William enlisted directly into the 750th Area Employment Company, or whether he had previously served and had been wounded. A William James Hemmings has been identified in the Medal Roll archives serving with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, and was sent to France on10th June 1915. It cannot be confirmed if this is the same man.
William was born in the winter of 1890 at Abbots Langley. He was one of the three children born to William (senior) and Mary Hemmings. In the 1891 Census the family lived at Nash Mills, near to “The Three Tuns” Public House. William (senior) was employed as a Butler.
William (junior) Hemmings survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
