Name
William George Overton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
266242
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
Plot IV, Row B, Grave 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Hannah or Rose Anna (nee DOBSON ?) OVERTON; husband of Emily Jane (nee TOMS) OVERTON.
His parent’s marriage and deaths are proving elusive.
William was born 1884 in Bushey, Herts, and married 5 August 1907 at St Andrew’s, Watford; they had two children. He resided in Watford. Emily remarried 1922 in the Watford district to Harry SEWELL, and died 17 February 1974 in King’s Langley, Herts, aged 88.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 6 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, a laundryman aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house painter aged 18, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and one child.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford, and was formerly Private 4221 Hertfordshire Regiment.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about William on the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 2 March 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 8 February 1919. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
