Name
Archibald Henry Waller
7 March 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35338
Essex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRAY MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot II, Row A, Grave 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Langleybury Village Memorial, Hunton Bridge, St Paul's Church Memorial, Langleybury, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Archibald Henry Waller was born on 7 March 1883 in Watford, Herts, the son of Henry and Eliza Waller (nee Doggett) and one of five children. (N.B. Although the Civil Registration Birth Index lists him as Henry Archibald, that seems to be only official record which reverses the given names).
His parents had married on 25 August 1873 at St Andrew’s, Watford, and on the 1891 Census the family were living at Lady Capels Cottage, Hempstead Road, Watford where his father was working as a gardener domestic servant.
Archibald was educated initially at Langleybury Primary School, followed by St Andrews Boys School, Watford from 7 March 1892; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 6 January 1896 to 17 January 1898.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Lady Caples Cottage, Watford and 18 year old Archibald was employed as a domestic baker.
His father Henry died in 1910 aged 63 and was buried on 20 October at St Paul’s Churchyard, Langleybury, Herts. Later that year Archibald married Lily Elizabeth Dell, a domestic servant from Kings Langley and the daughter of Frederick and Fanny Dell. The wedding took place on 26 December at All Saints Church, Kings Langley, Herts. The couple then moved in with his widowed mother and were recorded on the 1911 Census living with her at Lady Caples Cottage, Watford, at which time Archibald was working as a domestic gardener. Their daughter Ethel May was born on 5 April 1912.
His widow later lived at 6 Lower Paddock Road, Watford, Herts (pension records). His mother died in 1927 and was buried on 8 February at St Paul's Churchyard, Langleybury.
Wartime Service
Archibald enlisted in Bedford as Private 33175 in the Suffolk Regiment, later transferring to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment as Private 35338.
He served on the Western Front and died from lobar pneumonia at the 48th Casualty Clearing Station, Bray-sur-Somme, France, on 17 February 1917, aged 33, He is buried in Bray Military Cemetery, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His widow Lily received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 14s 2d. She also received a pension of £1 1s 8d a week for herself and her daughter Ethel. She never remarried and died on 26 March 1954 being buried on 31 March at St Paul’s, Langleybury.
There is a Death announcement for Archibald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 3 March 1917, and a brief article in the issue dated 10 March 1917.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Bushey First World War Commemoration Project
