Name
Archibald Warren
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
21682
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 88 to 90 and 162.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Archibald was born in 1882 in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, his parents were Robert and Ellen Warren (née Martin). – neither were born on the Isle of Wight but they married there on 12 November 1871.
In 1891 the family were living at 75 High Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Present were both parents: Robert (55) and Ellen (44), with Robert working as a caretaker of the Congregational Church. Their children were: Kate (18), Thomas Martin (17), Robert A (16), Walter William (14), George (12), Harry (11), Archibald (8), Edgar Septimus (6) and Reuben O (3).
By 1901 the family had moved to 2 Clifton Terrace, Ventnor, isle of Wight. Both parents were still present. Robert was now 64 and had no trade recorded, however Ellen was recorded as a lodging housekeeper. Of the children Kate, Archibald, Edgar and Reuben were still present, Archibald at 18 was working as a draper’s porter. Also present were a niece Alice L Richards (6), visitor Sarah L Lloyd (52) and boarders Thomas Oconnor (47), George Ephgrave (20) and Walter Colebrook (20).
Archibald married Alice Ellen Moody (b 22/7/1889) in 1910 on the Isle of Wight and their daughter Kathleen Ellen was born in November.
In 1911 Archibald (28), Alice (21) and Kathleen were living at Purley, 22 North Street, South Street, Ventnor, I O W. Archibald was working as a cellarman for a wine & spirit merchant. The census recorded they had been married for under 1 year with 1 child.
Another daughter, Dorothy May, was born in 1915.
Officially he was recorded as born in Ventnor, I.O.W. and was living there when he enlisted in Newport, I.O.W.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Newport on the Isle of Wight and was Regimental Number 21682. He was first in the 15th. Hants. Pte. 216822nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, then the 14th Battalion and finally in the 2nd Battalion. The latter was part of the 88th Brigade of the 29th Division in XIV Corps of the 5th Army.
In 1916, after two months in the field – it also refers to his length of service as 8 months - he suffered a shrapnel wound in his right arm & thigh. He was evacuated and arrived in the UK via HS Western Australia and transferred on 28 July 1916. The Wiltshire WW1 Hospital Records refer to a Transfer to Rushmore Mpl - believed to be Red Cross military hospitals in Rusholme but there are also references to Red Cross Hospital, East Harnham, Salisbury, but the order is not clear.
There is a second record which refers to the HS Gloucester Castle but describes the same wound and period so he may have travelled via both ships. He was discharged to duty on 26 August 1916 but was given 10 days leave. These records refer to service in the 15th Battalion, so his transfers were after this date and may have been a direct result of the wounds and his period of recovery.
He was killed in action when a shell burst near him while he was working a Lewis-gun.
His death occurred during the Battle of Langemarck in the Ypres Salient when the Brigade was dealing with strongpoints along the Langemarck to Weidendreft Road. The 88th Brigade attacked at 4.45am with the Newfoundland Regiment.
He has no known grave but is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing on Panels 88-90.
Additional Information
After his death £3 15s 10d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Alice, on 11 February 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £7 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 31 October 1919.
His pension cards record Alice Ellen Warren as his widow and his dependant, living at 17 South Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight – later updated to Barley House, Victoria Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. It also records their children as Kathleen Ellen (b 20/11/1910) and Dorthy May (b 23/2/1915). She was awarded a pension of 22s 11d a week from 4 March 1918, for her (13s 9d) and their children (9s 2d).
No direct connect to Hitchin has been found for Archibald, bit the answer may be with his brothers. It is believed that seven other brothers served. Of the eight sons in was reported on 8 September 1917 that Thomas was discharged through wounds, Arthur was still serving, Walter, George Harry also all discharged through wounds; Archibald, Edgar and Reuben all died. Harry, an older brother of Archibald, who worked as a postman in Hitchin and lived at 83 Whinbush Road -he was discharged through wounds in 1917. Reuben and (Edgar) Septimus were reports as “well-known in Hitchin the former being employed at the International Stores in (Hitchin) and the latter at Messrs. Paternoster & Hales, printers. (also of Hitchin)”. We can only assume that Harry asked for Archibald’s name to be added to the Hitchin memorial, but, if so, does not explain why he did not also ask the same for Edgar and Reuben.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
