Name
William C (George) Fitzjohn
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201924
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial Cheshunt, Christ Church (Formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
William George Fitzjohn was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in 1888, son of William George Fitzjohn a Labourer and Mary Katherine Fitzjohn (nee Jarrett). The second of eleven children although one died in infancy.
William was Baptised on 18th November 1888 in the Parish of Waltham Cross, Herts.
1891 Census records William Jr. aged 2, living with is parents, sister Kate (4) and brother Ernest (2 months) in, Eleanor Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1901 Census records William Jr. aged 12, living with his mother, three brothers and two sister at, 99 Crossbrook Street, Cheshunt, Herts.
On 21st September 1908 William Jr. enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment for 12 years, 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve, and issued with the service number 1299, he gave his age as 18 years and his occupation a Gardener. He was discharged medically unfit for military service at Portsmouth, Hampshire. On 30th March 1909, and returned to civilian life.
1911 Census records William Jr. working as a Nursery Garden Hand, living with his parents, four sisters and four brothers at, 15 South View Cottage, Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts.
William Jr. married Gertrude Bolden, the daughter of James & Jael Bolton in 1914, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx. They went on to have a daughter Muriel Fitzjohn born in 1915.
Wartime Service
William enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts and posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 201924.
On completion of his training William Jr. saw service on the Western Front. It is believed he was killed in action on 20th September 1917, during a raid on an enemy trench.
Additional Information
His effects of £2-6s-2d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £5, went to his widow Gertrude.
His younger brother Private G/25290 Ernest Arthur Fitzjohn M.M. died on 17th October 1918, of wounds received in action.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
