Name
William Russell Tims
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/11/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
163241
Royal Garrison Artillery
149th Siege Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
XIII. E. 13.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials,
Not on the Boxmoor memorials
Pre War
William Russell Tims was born in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead in 1881, the son and only child of William and Hannah Tims. His father had been a Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, Holborn Division, and resigned on 21 March 1979, having served for 15 years 182 days. He was entitled to a pension of £29 12s 10d.
His father died in 1883 and on the 1891 Census he was living with his grandfather Arscott Venton (a farmer) at Holsworthy, Bradford, Devon. His mother was listed as housekeeper.
He joined the London and South Western Railway in 1899 and started work as a Junior Clerk in the Goods Depot at Exeter, starting at £30 a year and rising to £100 by January 1914.
On the 1901 Census he was living with widowed mother Hannah at 134 Manor Road, St Thomas, Exeter where he was working as a Railway Clerk and she was 'living on her own means'.
He married Alice Mary Brown in 1908 at St Thomas district, Devon and they they had two children, Stanley (1909) and Percy (1913) and lived at 3 South Avenue, Exeter, later 20 Kings Road, Exeter.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at The Elms, Pinhoe, Devon and William was working as a Railway Clerk. His widowed mother Hannah was living with them.
Wartime Service
He enlisted In Exeter and served with the 149th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
He died of wounds received in action on 23 November 1917, aged 36, at the 4th casualty clearing station, Belgium and is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £5 3s 1d. She also received a pension of £1 5s 10d a week.
His widow was granted probate of his estate in Exeter on 15 April 1918 with effects of £753 17s 8d,
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
