Name
Horace Ralph Welch
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/07/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266824
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MERE CEMETERY
1660
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Mere War Memorial, Wiltshire
Pre War
Son of John and Ellen (nee GRAY) WELCH of Mere; husband of Beatrice (nee BATCHELOR) WELCH of Watford.
His parents married 1876 at Mere Register Office. Ellen died 1931 in the Mere district aged 75.
Horace was born 2 August 1884 in Mere, and attended Mere County Junior School from 1 June 1891. He married 11 November 1916 at Watford Congregational Church; they had one child. He resided in Watford; and was buried 6 July.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 6 he lived in Mere, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, a page aged 16, he lived in Stoke Newington, London. On the 1911 Census, a general servant aged 26, he lived in Watford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted 12 December 1916 in Watford in H.M. Regular Forces for General Service with the Colours or in the Reserve for the Duration of the War: a butler aged 31 of Watford; Private TF/266824 2nd/1st Kent Cyclist Battalion.
He embarked with the 8th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment from Folkestone 13 April 1918 and proceeded to the 7th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment 14 April 1918.
He was wounded in action 24 April 1918, and sent to No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station 25 April 1918, transferred to the U.K. 28 April 1918.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died 9am at the V.A.D. Hospital, Mere, Wilts, of appendicitis.
Additional Information
There is an In Memoriam for Horace in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 July 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
