Name
(Jack) William John Steer
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40389
Essex Regiment
D Coy. 11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TREFCON BRITISH CEMETERY, CAULAINCOURT
B. 30.
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Elstree Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Elstree, Not on the Borehamwood memorials
Pre War
William John was born in 1890 (baptised 13 Jul 1890) in Elstree to George William, a bricklayer, and Elizabeth (nee Clarke). The family were living at the Village Elstree in 1891.
William John was known as Jack and he was joined by George Reginald in 1892 and Dorothy in 1895. On the 1911 Census Jack’s occupation was house painter as was his father’s and the family were living at the High Street, Elstree.) Jack (William John) married Ella Rosa Hall on 24 May 1915 in Barney, Norfolk and made their home in Elstree.
Wartime Service
Jack (William John as he was known to Services) enlisted in Essex Regiment as Private 40389 and was posted to 11th Battalion, in 6th Division which had been in France & Flanders since Oct 1915.
There are no service records available for him (many were lost enemy bombing in WW2). The 6th Division in late summer 1918 were engaged in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and William John was killed in action on 17 Sep 1918 shortly before or during the Battle of Epehy.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 and arrears of £12 2s 7d was paid to his widow. In the newspaper the photograph here is annotated as "Pte T Steer, Essex Regiment of Elstree, Killed whilst resting". In the biography we know that William John Steer was also known a Jack and he too was of the Essex Regiment. We think that 'J' had been incorrectly given as 'T' and that this is the man who is listed on the memorial.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
