Name
William Harry Westaway
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/04/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2575
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
I. C. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
William Harry Westaway was born in 1890 and although his service record suggests that he was born in Hitchin, the census records Great Bentley or Tendring, Essex and baptised as Harry William on 30 March 1890 in St Paul’s Church, Paddington, London. His parents were Thomas Henry and Hannah Jane Westaway (née Purdie) who had married in St Pancras, London in 1888.
In 1891 the family were living at 93 Cornwall Road, Kensington, London. Present were both parents: Thomas (24) and Jane (24), with Thomas working as a draper’s porter. Harry was their only child at that time.
In 1901 the family, still in Kensington, were living at 9 Kenway Road. Present were both parents, with Thomas now working as a grocer. As well as William, other siblings were Florence (9), John (6), Dorothy Jean (5), Agnes (3) and Frederick Robert (1). Four visitors were also present.
By 1911 the family had moved to 22 Pix Road, Letchworth, Herts. Present were both parents, Thomas now working as a club steward. The census recorded they had been married for 23 years with 8 children, of whom 2 had died. William was absent and has not yet been found in this census. Of the other children only Dorothy and Frederick were present.
It seems that William moved to Hitchin before the war.
William enlisted in Hertford on 29 August 1914 while living Hitchin, becoming Private 2575, in the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment. At that time his was working as a warehouseman and was 24 years and 5 months old. He signed his form confirming his willingness to serve overseas on the 31st.
He married Alice Plumridge (b 26/10/1994) in early 1916 in Buckinghamshire.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts. buy we think this was an error and he was born in Essex. But he was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
William arrived in France on 6 November 1914 with those of the Herts territorials who had volunteered to serve overseas.
On 7 February 1915 he was admitted to No. 4 Field Ambulance with dental problems, treated and was released for duty the next day.
He was attached to the 173rd Company, Royal Engineers in the field as a miner on 6 September 1915, but re-joined his regiment on the 21st.
It is thought that he was wounded by shellfire in head at 11pm, died as a result. The Herts Mercury reported that he was from Letchworth and was killed on April 1st.
Additional Information
After his death £2 13s 10d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Alice, on 9 June 1916. Later a war gratuity of £7 was authorised to be paid to her on 11 September 1919.
His pension cards record Alice as his widow and his next of kin, living at 5 Castle Street, Slough, Bucks. She was awarded a pension of 10s a week from 23 October 1916.
Alice signed for his British War and Victory medals o 7 April 1921
Brother 'B' in Royal Navy. Brother 'J.S' in Royal Navy. Miss Westaway worked at Spirella.
Acknowledgments
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
